Time to share a take on everyone’s favorite comfort food—macaroni and cheese! This is the one dish that truly makes me feel sorry for anyone that is either lactose-intolerant or has a gluten sensitivity. I’m certain there are certain options available to you, but none of them will come close to this. In this macaroni and cheese recipe I use a combination of three different cheeses—sharp Cheddar, smoky Gouda, and salty Parmesan. The great thing about this dish is that you can customize it to suite your own tastes by using whatever cheeses you like the most. (Goat cheese is another one that works well.) It gets finished off with a buttery-herb topping before getting baked to golden perfection. You’re welcome.
Macaroni and Cheese with Parmesan Bread Crumbs
- 2 cups uncooked elbow pasta
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded smoked Gouda cheese
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- kosher salt
- ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Procedure:
- Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until al dente (cooked, but still retains some bite). Drain the noodles and set aside.
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a pot over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute.
- Add in the milk, increase the heat, and cook, whisking regularly, until the milk comes to a boil and thickens, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Whisk in the Cheddar, Gouda, mustard, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and stir until the cheese has melted and everything is evenly combined. Stir in the drained macaroni noodles, and then transfer to a baking dish.
- Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter (you can use the microwave) and mix with the Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, parsley, and some salt and pepper. Sprinkle the Parmesan-bread crumb topping evenly over the macaroni and cheese.
- Bake in a preheated 400˚F oven until the cheese is bubbling and it is golden brown on top, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.
What kind of cheese do you like to put in your macaroni and cheese? Tell us in the comments below. Visit thehungryhutch.com for more food inspiration, and be sure check back here for more recipe videos.
