Ultimate Three-Cheese Baked Macaroni with Herbs and a Hint of Spice

Ingredients

- 1 pound pasta (elbow or your choice)
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano
- 1/2 cup shredded Fontina cheese
- 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Cook Pasta
In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until al dente, approximately 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.

3. Make Cheese Sauce
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
- Gradually whisk in the flour, stirring constantly to form a smooth paste, about 1-2 minutes.
- Slowly add the milk, whisking continuously until the mixture is smooth and begins to thicken, roughly 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in the cheddar, Gruyere, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Fontina cheeses. Continue stirring until the cheeses are fully melted and combined.
- Add the mascarpone for extra creaminess, followed by Dijon mustard, kosher salt, table salt, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, and ground nutmeg. Mix until smooth.

4. Combine Pasta and Sauce
Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce, stirring to ensure every piece is coated.

5. Prepare for Baking
Transfer the pasta mixture to a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.

6. Season Breadcrumbs
In a small bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with thyme and oregano.

7. Top and Bake
Sprinkle the seasoned breadcrumbs evenly over the pasta mixture.
Place in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden brown and bubbly.

8. Serve
Let cool for a few minutes before serving to allow the cheese to settle. Enjoy your gourmet mac and cheese experience!

Preparation & Cooking Times

- Preparation Time: PT20M
20 minutes
- Cooking Time: PT30M
30 minutes

Total Time

- Total Time: PT50M
50 minutes

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

Pasta, Mac and Cheese, Baked Macaroni, Cheese Sauce, Comfort Food, Homemade, Oven Baked, Easy Dinner, Creamy, Family Meal

Recipe Yield

Serves 4 adults

Calories

Total Calories: 3450

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