Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Thanksgiving Mac and Cheese recipe. Creamy, cheesy, and baked to perfection, it’s a must-have side dish for your holiday feast.
Ingredients
Scale
Mac and Cheese:
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Topping:
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Cook the macaroni: Boil salted water and cook macaroni until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make the cheese sauce: Melt butter, whisk in flour, then add milk and cream. Stir in seasonings and cheeses until smooth.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Mix cooked pasta with cheese sauce and transfer to a baking dish.
- Prepare the topping: Combine breadcrumbs, melted butter, and smoked paprika; sprinkle over the mac and cheese.
- Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbly. Let sit before serving.
Notes
- For extra richness, consider adding cooked bacon or caramelized onions.
- This dish can be prepared a day in advance and baked when ready to serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
