This outrageous macaroni and cheese is creamy, gooey and topped with giant bread crumbs. Making your own has never been easier!
I kind of have a thing for macaroni and cheese. But I’m also really picky about it too. It has to be made with REAL cheese and it can’t be greasy. Tell me I’m not alone. That said, I always get a little nervous when I make a new recipe, because I already have a few tried & true ones that I really love. I’m happy to report this one was a big huge hit with both me and my family. My husband said it’s one of the best I’ve made!! ???????? So of course I had to share it with you all!
This version is made with a blend of three types of cheese, however, unlike most traditional mac and cheese recipes, it’s not made with cheddar. Trust me, I was a little skeptical about that too, but since it’s loaded with havarti, gouda and pecorino romano, I knew it’d still be delicious- and it was!
You’ll start by boiling your macaroni. I chose a medium shell, however, any shape will do (although I’d avoid longer noodles). Once it’s cooked, drain it, rinse it, and set it aside in a bowl. Next you’ll need to prepare the bread topping. I used a artisan bread, but plain white bread will work too (or see my notes if you prefer using panko breadcrumbs). Place the bread in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan set over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Pour the melted butter into the bowl with the bread, and toss until the bread is coated, then set it aside.
Then, in a large stock pot or dutch oven set over medium-low heat, add the remaining butter. When the butter has melted, add the flour and cook, whisking continuously for 1 minute, taking care not to burn. While whisking, slowly pour in 2 ¾ cups of the warm milk, a little at a time so that the mixture stays nice and smooth. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick, about 8-10 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the salt, dry mustard, nutmeg, black pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper, and 1 ¾ cups havarti, ¾ cups gouda and 2 tablespoons pecorino romano. Vigorously whisk until the sauce is smooth, then stir in the remaining ¼ cup of milk. Pour in the cooked macaroni and toss to combine. Side note: make sure your macaroni is nice and dry. I like to pour it into a colander and set it aside so that it can drip/dry while I made the sauce.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheese and the breadcrumbs over the top. Place in the oven and bake until golden brown, about 20-25 minutes or until the breadcrumbs are nice and golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Allowing the dish to cool will help the sauce set a bit.
Serve it up while it’s still warm and enjoy! Here’s why we loved this outrageous macaroni and cheese:
✔️ It used a blend of our favorite cheeses
✔️ The sauce was easy to make was the perfect amount (the macaroni wasn’t dry or swimming)
✔️ The seasonings and spices added subtle flavor to the dish without overwhelming it
✔️ The toasted bread added lots of crunch texture to the dish
✔️ It made the perfect amount for our family
✔️ Clean-up was a breeze
Next time you’re on the hunt for a delicious, cheesy side dish, give this one a try!
Outrageous Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 lb dry macaroni - any shape
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter - divided
- 3 slices bread - crust removed,(if desired), torn into 1/4-inch pieces*
- 3 cup warm milk - divided**
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp kosher sea salt
- 1 tsp dried mustard
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/8 tsp paprika
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 cup havarti cheese - grated, divided
- 1 cup gouda cheese - grated, divided
- 1/4 cup pecorino romano cheese - grated, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly butter a 1 ½ quart casserole dish or an 8x8-inch pan; set aside.
- In a large stock pot or dutch oven, cook macaroni according to package's instructions. Drain, rinse and set aside in a bowl.
- Place the bread in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan set over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Pour the melted butter into the bowl with the bread, and toss until the bread is coated; set aside.
- In a large stock pot or dutch oven set over medium-low heat, add the remaining butter. When the butter has melted, add the flour and cook, whisking continuously for 1 minute, taking care not to burn. While whisking, slowly pour in 2 ¾ cups of the warm milk, a little at a time so that the mixture stays nice and smooth. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick, about 8-10 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the salt, mustard, nutmeg, black pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper, and 1 ¾ cups havarti, ¾ cups gouda and 2 tablespoons pecorino romano. Vigorously whisk until the sauce is smooth, then stir in the remaining ¼ cup of milk, then pour in the macaroni and toss to combine.
- Transfer the mixture into the prepared dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheese and the breadcrumbs over the top. Place in the oven and bake until golden brown, about 20-25 minutes or until the breadcrumbs are nice and golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.
NOTES
**I used my microwave to warm the milk
-You can easily double this recipe and bake it in a 9x13-inch dish.
Wow, this is our new favorite mac & cheese!! Love the pieces of bread & all the spices!