Description
Gourmet Baked Mac and Cheese with a Crunch is your ultimate indulgent weeknight pasta. Creamy cheddar and Gruyère melt into a silky milk sauce, with a Dijon kick and a whisper of garlic. Tender elbow macaroni soaks it up, then bakes under a buttery Parmesan breadcrumb crust for a golden, bubbly top. Perfect for cozy family dinners or crowd-pleasing gatherings—creamy, cheesy, and irresistibly crunchy on top. Ready in about 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Crunch topping:
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 tbsp parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a baking dish.
- Cook macaroni until al dente; drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter, whisk in flour, and cook 1 minute.
- Slowly add milk, whisking until smooth and thickened.
- Stir in cheddar, Gruyère, Dijon, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until melted.
- Add cooked pasta to the sauce and mix well. Transfer to the baking dish.
- Combine breadcrumbs, melted butter, Parmesan, and parsley; sprinkle over pasta.
- Bake 12–15 minutes until golden and bubbling.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute half the Gruyère with white cheddar for a sharper bite.
- For a lighter version, use 2% milk and less butter.
- If you like extra crunch, broil for 1–2 minutes at the end.
- Make ahead: assemble, refrigerate up to 1 day, then bake.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for 2–3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 50 g
- Saturated Fat: 28 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 64 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
Keywords: Gourmet Baked Mac and Cheese, crunch topping mac and cheese, baked pasta, creamy cheddar Gruyère, Dijon mac and cheese, easy weeknight dinner, family-friendly pasta, comfort food