Description
A rich and ultra-creamy Five Cheese Baked Mac & Cheese casserole with a crispy top layer, perfect for make-ahead meals or feeding a crowd.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp kosher salt (for pasta water)
- 1 lb large elbow macaroni
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk (or 1.5 cups whole milk)
- 1 tsp seasoned salt
- 1 tsp granulated garlic
- 1 tsp granulated onion
- 1/2 tsp ground mustard
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 cup American cheese (or Velveeta), shredded
- 1 1/2 cups extra-sharp cheddar, shredded
- 1 cup Colby Jack, shredded
- 1 cup smoked Gouda (or plain), shredded
- 1 cup smoked Gruyère (or plain), shredded
- Extra cheese reserved for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13″ baking dish.
- Boil elbow macaroni in salted water until just shy of al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain.
- In a bowl, whisk together egg and evaporated milk. Stir in seasoned salt, garlic, onion, mustard, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne.
- Return pasta to pot and stir in butter until melted and pasta is coated.
- Pour in the milk-egg mixture and stir to combine.
- Fold in the shredded cheeses, reserving some for topping.
- Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish and top with reserved cheese.
- Cover with foil sprayed with cooking spray and bake for 30 minutes.
- Uncover and bake for an additional 20–30 minutes until bubbly and slightly browned.
- Let rest 10–15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use hand-shredded cheese for better melt and texture.
- Can be prepped ahead and refrigerated or frozen before baking.
- To reheat, add a splash of milk to loosen the sauce.
- Swap cheeses or pasta shapes as desired for variations.
- Let dish come to room temperature before baking if previously refrigerated or frozen.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/10 of dish)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
