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–+ servings

Seriously Cheesy Mac and Cheese

This Seriously Cheesy Mac and Cheese is ultra creamy, rich, gooey, and loaded with layers of bold cheesy flavor in every bite. Made with a silky homemade cheese sauce, sharp cheddar, melty Colby jack, and smoky gouda, this baked macaroni and cheese is pure comfort food perfection.
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Course: Appetizers, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cheesy mac, from scratch mac and cheese, homemade mac and cheese, homemade macaroni and cheese, mac and cheese, mac n cheese, macaroni and cheese recipe, three cheese mac and cheese
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 10 servings

Ingredients 

Ingredients

  • 1 pound large elbow macaroni cooked al dente per instructions
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups heavy cream
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Cheese Blend

  • 3 cups freshly shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups freshly shredded Colby jack cheese
  • 2 cups freshly shredded gouda cheese

For Topping

  • About ½ cup reserved shredded cheese

Instructions

Cook the Pasta

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  • Cook the elbow macaroni until al dente according to package instructions.
  • Drain and set aside.

Make the Cheese Sauce

  • In a large pot, or Dutch oven, over medium heat, melt the butter.
  • Add the flour and whisk continuously until fully combined and lightly bubbling, about 1–2 minutes.
  • Slowly pour in the whole milk and heavy cream while whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
  • Continue cooking and whisking until the sauce begins to thicken slightly and gently simmers.

Add the Cheese

  • Remove the slightly thickened sauce from heat.
  • Add the salt and shredded cheeses gradually, whisking until fully melted and smooth before adding more cheese.
  • Continue stirring until the sauce is creamy, silky, and completely smooth.

Assemble the Mac and Cheese

  • Add the cooked pasta back into the cheese sauce and stir until evenly coated.
  • Pour the mac and cheese into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
  • Top with the reserved shredded cheese.

Bake

  • If Baking Immediately: Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 10–15 minutes until hot, bubbly, and lightly golden on top.
  • If Baking Later: Allow the assembled mac and cheese to cool completely, then cover and refrigerate. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly.