ITALIAN THREE-CHEESE MACARONI

Italian Three-Cheese Macaroni image

My husband is a self-proclaimed mac-and-cheese connoisseur and says that this is his favorite version. The Italian seasoning and tomatoes really complement the pasta and cheeses. -Adriane Mummert, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner

Time 1h20m

Yield 12 servings (1 cup each).

Number Of Ingredients 13

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Ingredients

4 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
4 cups 2% milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Steps:

Cook macaroni according to package directions., Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in cheddar and Parmesan cheeses until melted. Drain macaroni., Spread 1 cup cheese sauce in a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Layer with half of macaroni, tomatoes and cheese sauce. Repeat layers. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Combine bread crumbs and butter; sprinkle over top., Cover and bake 40 minutes. Uncover and bake 10-15 minutes longer or until golden brown and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 402 calories, Fat 23g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 66mg cholesterol, Sodium 763mg sodium, Carbohydrate 33g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 17g protein.