Description
This 5 Cheese Crack and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food, loaded with five types of cheese for an ultra-creamy, cheesy pasta bake that’s golden and bubbling to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup gouda cheese, shredded
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well.
- In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the cream cheese and milk, whisking until smooth and creamy.
- Stir in the garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add the drained macaroni and stir to coat evenly in the sauce.
- Add the cheddar, mozzarella, gouda, and parmesan cheeses. Stir until fully melted and combined.
- Spoon the cheesy mixture into a greased baking dish and spread evenly.
- Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes until golden and bubbling on top.
- Let cool for a few minutes before serving hot.
Notes
- Use freshly grated cheese for the best melt and flavor.
- Feel free to add a crunchy breadcrumb topping before baking for extra texture.
- For a kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated gently for up to 3 days.
- You can substitute gouda with fontina or gruyère if preferred.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 640
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
