Craving a comforting and cheesy pasta dish? Look no further than macaroni with four cheeses! This classic recipe is a symphony of flavors and textures, featuring tender macaroni coated in a luscious and creamy sauce made with a blend of four delectable cheeses: sharp cheddar, gooey mozzarella, nutty Parmesan, and tangy Gruyère. Each bite is a delightful journey, offering a harmonious balance of richness, sharpness, and nuttiness. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a hearty and satisfying dish to impress your guests, this macaroni with four cheeses is sure to hit the spot. And with three additional variations—a spicy version, a vegetarian option, and a baked rendition—you can tailor this recipe to your taste preferences and dietary needs. So, gather your ingredients and let's embark on a culinary adventure that will leave your taste buds craving more!
Let's cook with our recipes!
MAC AND FOUR CHEESES
Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network
Categories side-dish
Time 20m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cook the macaroni according to the package directions in lightly salted water, leaning toward the al dente side. Do not overcook!
- Put the cream, butter and garlic clove into a Dutch oven and heat on the stove over low heat. When the cream is hot, add the fontina, goat cheese, Parmesan and Romano.
- Drain the macaroni (reserving some of the cooking water if needed) and add it to the pot. Stir gently to combine, adding hot macaroni water as needed for consistency. Don't overmix; if there are little clumps of cheese here and there, it's fine! Taste and add about 1/2 teaspoon salt if needed. Add some pepper and minced parsley and stir. Serve immediately.
BEST FOUR-CHEESE MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is it! Our four-cheese macaroni and cheese recipe is here to make your cheese-filled dreams come true. The classic version of our best macaroni and cheese is absolutely irresistible, but you can also customize it with our four different flavor variations including butternut squash, truffle oil, and more.
Provided by Julie Miltenberger
Time 37m
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat broiler. Coat a 2 1/2- to 3-quart broiler-safe au gratin or baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.** Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boiling. Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain and return to the warm pot.
- Meanwhile, in a large saucepan melt the 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir for 3 minutes. Stir in flour, kosher salt, and pepper. Add milk all at once. Cook, whisking constantly, until thickened and bubbly. Cook and whisk for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat.
- Add Gouda cheese, cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese, and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, whisking until cheeses are melted and sauce is smooth. Add the cheese sauce to cooked pasta; stir to coat. Transfer mixture to prepared dish.
- In a small microwave-safe bowl melt the 1 teaspoon butter. Stir in panko and the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle panko mixture over pasta mixture. Broil 5 to 6 inches from the heat about 2 minutes or until top is browned. If desired, garnish with parsley.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 739 kcal, Carbohydrate 72 g, Cholesterol 111 mg, Protein 36 g, SaturatedFat 20 g, Sodium 858 mg, Sugar 9 g, Fat 34 g, ServingSize about 9 1/2 cups, UnsaturatedFat 10 g
FOUR CHEESE MACARONI CASSEROLE
This casserole is quick and easy but full of flavor. Both children and adults love it!
Provided by MSDELENA
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil over high heat. Add macaroni, and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, and pour hot pasta into a casserole dish.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir together tomatoes, italian seasoning, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
- Stir into the hot pasta 1 cup of Cheddar, 1 cup of mozzarella, and 1/2 cup of Parmesan. Continue to stir until the cheeses have melted. Then stir in tomato and herb mixture. Sprinkle 1/2 cup Cheddar, 1/2 cup mozzarella, 1/4 cup Parmesan, and 1/4 cup feta over the top of the casserole.
- Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 25 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 511.3 calories, Carbohydrate 47 g, Cholesterol 74.6 mg, Fat 22.8 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 29.7 g, SaturatedFat 14 g, Sodium 887.5 mg, Sugar 5.6 g
FOUR-CHEESE MACARONI
I adapted this recipe from one a friend gave to me. It has a distinctive blue cheese taste and is very filling. I like to serve it with chicken. -Darlene Marturano, W. Suffield, Connecticut
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 20m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth; gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. , Reduce heat to low; stir in cheeses until melted. Drain macaroni; add to cheese sauce and stir until coated.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 508 calories, Fat 23g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 65mg cholesterol, Sodium 603mg sodium, Carbohydrate 51g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 26g protein.
MACARONI AND 4 CHEESES
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until tender but firm, about 5 to 8 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
- Meanwhile, place the frozen squash and milk into a large saucepan and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally and breaking up the squash with a spoon until it is defrosted. Turn the heat up to medium and cook until the mixture is almost simmering, stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the Cheddar, jack cheese, ricotta cheese, salt, mustard and cayenne pepper. Pour cheese mixture over the macaroni and stir to combine. Transfer the macaroni and cheese to the baking dish.
- Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and oil in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the top of the macaroni and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, then broil for 3 minutes so the top is crisp and nicely browned.
SIMPLE MACARONI AND CHEESE
A very quick and easy fix to a tasty side-dish. Fancy, designer mac and cheese often costs forty or fifty dollars to prepare when you have so many exotic and expensive cheeses, but they aren't always the best tasting. This recipe is cheap and tasty.
Provided by g0dluvsugly
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 30m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; stir in flour, salt, and pepper until smooth, about 5 minutes. Slowly pour milk into butter-flour mixture while continuously stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbling, about 5 minutes. Add Cheddar cheese to milk mixture and stir until cheese is melted, 2 to 4 minutes.
- Fold macaroni into cheese sauce until coated.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 630.2 calories, Carbohydrate 55 g, Cholesterol 99.6 mg, Fat 33.6 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 26.5 g, SaturatedFat 20.9 g, Sodium 777 mg, Sugar 7.6 g
FOUR-CHEESE TRUFFLED MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is one of my favorite things to make once the weather gets a chill in the air. It's great for cheese-lovers (like myself) and works great as leftovers or at dinner parties! Truffle oil has by far been one of the best culinary purchases I have made. One little bottle has lasted me a year, and can be used with so many things, like this recipe. Top with a pinch of truffle salt!
Provided by Hilary van Santen
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook cavatappi in boiling water, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain.
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium-low heat. Whisk flour into butter until mixture has a thick, paste-like consistency, about 30 seconds. Slowly whisk 2 cups milk into butter-flour mixture until smooth. Stir in remaining milk, increase heat to medium high, and cook, whisking constantly, until mixture is thick and almost boiling, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Stir Gouda cheese, Cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese, and 1 cup Parmesan cheese into milk mixture until cheese melts and cheese sauce is smooth. Fold cavatappi into cheese sauce; pour mixture into prepared baking dish.
- Stir remaining Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs together in a small bowl. Sprinkle bread crumbs mixture over cavatappi mixture and drizzle truffle oil over the top.
- Bake in the preheated oven until golden and bubbling, about 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 565.1 calories, Carbohydrate 42.8 g, Cholesterol 98.1 mg, Fat 31.2 g, Fiber 1.7 g, Protein 29.1 g, SaturatedFat 18.7 g, Sodium 646.1 mg, Sugar 6.5 g
GOURMET FOUR CHEESE MACARONI AND CHEESE
When a recipe is SO good that it haunts your memory for over 40 years, you know it had to be good! As a young bride, I made this macaroni and cheese dish from a requested recipe from Bon Appetit magazine. Sadly, if I saved the recipe, it was lost along the years of moving. After the Internet, I searched, in vain, for this recipe for years, until I discovered 3/4's of it in a women's magazine. With the help of many Zaar members that helped me find the missing cheese that was needed, I now have the long lost recipe and the ability to make it again and again for an entire new generation of friends and family! This is NOT meant to be an everyday mac & cheese. It's great comfort food when you want to celebrate something special: a good grade, a birthday, or an "I love you!" kinda day. Don't skimp on the cheeses; they will be slightly costly. But, the end result is Oh So Good ! You will not be disappointed in the complex flavours of this simple dish, with a twist.
Provided by The_Swedish_Chef
Categories Cheese
Time 1h
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- PLEASE NOTE: This is a BAKED macaroni and cheese, therefore, it will NOT turn out with a lot of extra cheesy sauce asis absorbed into the pasta while baking. If you require an extra saucy mac & cheese, just reduce the amount of pasta you place into the dish or make more sauce so it is creamier. Thanks so much for making this dish; I hope you enjoy it! :).
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 3 quart rectangular baking dish with non-stick spray. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boiling.
- Toss all the shredded cheeses together in a large bowl, set aside.
- Melt butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until smooth and slightly bubbly.
- In a thin stream, whisk in the milk. Stir in the onion powder, salt, nutmeg, dried mustard and cayenne.
- Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in 2 1/2 cups of the cheese mixture and stir until smooth. Cover to retain the heat.
- Once water boils, add pasta. Cook until your desired doneness, then drain. In the pasta container, stir together the cooked pasta and cheese sauce.
- Pour half of the mixture into the prepared dish. Sprinkle with a generous cup of the reserved cheese. Spoon remaining cheese-covered pasta into the dish and top with the remaining cheese.
- Add 1 cup of Japanese Panko Bread crumbs to the top of mixture.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until the Panko crumbs are lightly browned and the cheese is bubbly. Cool slightly before serving.
FOUR-CHEESE MACARONI AND CHEESE
Mascarpone, Brie, cream cheese and Parmesan yield the most velvety macaroni and cheese imaginable. This is perfect for a wintry dinner, with a green salad on the side, or as a partner to a golden roast chicken.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dinner, easy, pastas, main course
Time 45m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 2-quart gratin dish.
- Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook pasta to al dente; drain well.
- Transfer hot pasta to a large bowl and toss immediately with Brie and cream cheese until melted and smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, mascarpone and parmigiano. Stir egg mixture into pasta. Season with pepper and nutmeg.
- Turn pasta into prepared pan. Bake until golden brown and bubbling, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 600, UnsaturatedFat 11 grams, Carbohydrate 45 grams, Fat 35 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 26 grams, SaturatedFat 20 grams, Sodium 603 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams
Tips:
- Use high-quality cheeses. The better the cheese, the better the macaroni and cheese will be. Look for cheeses that are flavorful and have a good melting quality, such as cheddar, Gruyère, Parmesan, and Asiago.
- Cook the macaroni al dente. This means that the pasta should be cooked through but still have a slight bite to it. Overcooked macaroni will be mushy and won't hold its shape well in the macaroni and cheese.
- Make a roux. A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken the macaroni and cheese sauce. It helps to create a smooth and creamy sauce.
- Use milk or cream. Milk or cream is used to thin the cheese sauce and make it more pourable. You can use whole milk, low-fat milk, or even evaporated milk. If you want a richer sauce, you can use cream.
- Season the sauce to taste. Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper or paprika for a little spice.
- Top the macaroni and cheese with breadcrumbs. Breadcrumbs add a nice crunchy topping to the macaroni and cheese. You can use plain breadcrumbs or seasoned breadcrumbs.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that is loved by people of all ages. It is a simple dish to make, but there are a few tips that you can follow to make sure that your macaroni and cheese is the best it can be. By using high-quality cheeses, cooking the macaroni al dente, and making a roux, you can create a smooth and creamy cheese sauce. By adding milk or cream and seasoning to taste, you can customize the sauce to your liking. And by topping the macaroni and cheese with breadcrumbs, you can add a nice crunchy topping. With these tips, you can make a macaroni and cheese that is sure to please everyone.
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