Description
Million Dollar Mac and Cheese is a decadent, layered baked pasta dish featuring a creamy cheddar cheese sauce, a blend of Havarti and gruyere cheeses, and a crispy garlic parsley panko breadcrumb topping. This rich and comforting casserole is perfect for special occasions or a cozy family meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Mac and Cheese:
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 10 ounces cheddar, freshly grated
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For Layering:
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 3 ounces Havarti, freshly grated
- 3 ounces gruyere, freshly grated
For the Bread Crumb Topping:
- 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 tablespoon parsley, minced
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the mac and cheese.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook for one minute less than the package directions indicate. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Make the Cheese Sauce: In a medium-sized pot, melt 3 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk constantly, cooking for 1 minute to form a roux. Slowly pour in the milk and heavy cream while whisking continuously. Cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and is smooth.
- Add Cheese and Season: Remove the pot from heat and stir in the freshly grated cheddar, salt, and black pepper. Continue stirring until the cheese is melted completely and the sauce is creamy.
- Combine with Pasta: Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir thoroughly to coat all the pasta. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Prepare the Baking Dish: Pour the melted butter into the bottom of a 2-quart baking dish, coating the base evenly.
- Layer the Dish: Spoon half of the macaroni and cheese into the baking dish. Spread the sour cream evenly over this layer. Sprinkle the freshly grated Havarti and gruyere cheeses on top. Then spoon the remaining macaroni and cheese over these layers.
- Make the Bread Crumb Topping: In a small bowl, combine the panko bread crumbs, melted butter, garlic salt, and minced parsley. Mix well until the crumbs are evenly coated.
- Add Topping: Sprinkle the prepared bread crumb mixture evenly over the top layer of macaroni and cheese.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until the sauce is bubbly and the breadcrumb topping is golden brown to your liking.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve immediately while hot and creamy.
Notes
- Use a medium to sharp cheddar cheese for the best flavor in the cheese sauce.
- You can swap the Havarti and gruyere for other cheeses like provolone, colby jack, or mozzarella to suit your taste or budget.
- Make sure not to overcook the pasta; cooking it just under the package time helps it hold texture during baking.
- The breadcrumb topping can be customized by adding different herbs or spices to enhance flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approximately 1/8th of the recipe)
- Calories: 440
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
