Description
Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese with Gruyère and Cheddar is a rich, indulgent twist on the classic comfort dish. The combination of sharp cheddar and nutty Gruyère creates a luscious, velvety sauce that coats every bite of tender pasta, finished with a golden, crunchy breadcrumb topping.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb elbow macaroni (or cavatappi)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups whole milk, warmed
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 ½ cups Gruyère cheese, shredded
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Topping:
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1–2 minutes to form a roux.
- Gradually whisk in warm milk and cream, stirring constantly until smooth and thickened (about 5 minutes).
- Stir in Dijon, garlic powder, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
- Remove from heat and stir in cheddar and Gruyère until melted and creamy.
- Add pasta to the sauce and mix well. Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish.
- For topping: Mix breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over pasta.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbling.
- Let cool for 5–10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra creaminess, add ½ cup cream cheese to the sauce.
- To add a kick, stir in a pinch of cayenne pepper or smoked paprika.
- This dish reheats well—cover with foil and warm in the oven at 325°F until heated through.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Pasta, Comfort Food
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: mac and cheese, baked macaroni, gruyère macaroni, cheddar pasta bake, creamy baked mac