Four-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

faye49

This was fantastic, it elevated plain macaroni and cheese to a company dinner, I must admit, although it was fantastic on it's own, I did add lobster meat when I served it to my friends. (I shelled the lobster and added it raw when I stirred in the pasta).

TLG

Based on the other comments about the dish being too dry, I only used 12 oz of dried pasta, I reduced the eggs to just two and instead added about an 1/8 cup of cream (I tried to approximate the volume of the egg I was leaving out). I also added sriacha to the egg/ cheese mixture and topped the dish before baking with pano bread crumbs and extra Parmesan. Dish came out great with these changes. If I make it again, I will only use one egg and replace with even more cream.

Sarah

I have to agree with most of the other comments, the eggs really throw this dish off. I was a bit confused when I saw 3 eggs listed but decided to proceed anyway. Wish I had listened to my gut because the amount of eggs plus the recommended cooking time results in a bizarre pasta cheese frittata. I think the eggs were meant to serve as a binding agent for the sauce so you don't have cheese soup but three is a too much and the heat is too high for too long.

cvb

Hazel, maybe replacing the brie with 6 oz of cream cheese, plus a couple tbs of butter would have worked? It could be that using only 2 oz of extra cream cheese caused the dryness.

Mary Beth

You guys can't possibly have tested this. I was suspicious when I saw 3 eggs in the recipe & I was right. This is dry and, frankly, boring. Far from the best mac & cheese I've ever had. Sorry, Melissa, but this one is a dud.

John

I made this yesterday. I changed nothing and it came out really dry. I guess I was expecting it to have a creamy texture considering the ingredients.

phyllis

The most bland and dry mac and cheese I've ever eaten. The eggs in the recipe ruin it.

Russ

This turned out well for us--a nice winter supper. I see how some note writers had a dryness problem. I was generous with the cheeses and probably used a quarter to half again as much as the recipe called for. It all came together well. Next time I will spice it up a bit more.

jake

This was awful. Heavy, flavorless, dry.

Joanna

I think the temp is too high -- I would try 20 minutes at 350 degrees next time.

Susan

I did a little looking around + there are other mac + cheese recipes on the NY Times that call for absolutely NO eggs. I would use heavy cream + more cheese.

CWN

After reading the comments, I took out the eggs and baked it covered with buttered foil for 15 minutes at 350. It came out nicely. I don't actually think it needs to be baked though. It could just get stirred together and served.

Sue

After reading the comments I left out the eggs and added butter and milk and fresh spinach. Was pretty good but not worth the expense of the Brie and mascarpone.

lilli

I would give this 5 stars if you leave out the egg and don’t bake it in the oven. It made it VERY dry. I used extra cream cheese, only bake in the oven to get warm and melt extra cheese on top. Otherwise VERY delicious and will make again.

Hazel

I made this yesterday, using ingredients that were more likely to be in my pantry. I don't like Brie, so I replaced that with 2 more ounces of good cream cheese (locally made without stabilizers, etc). I replaced the mascarpone with whole milk yogurt. It looked dry after 20 minutes in the oven so I splashed in some more whole milk. This was not a success -- still very dry. If I try this again, I'll add about 1 cup whole milk in the egg mixture and see how it goes. Small elbow macaroni.

GZ

Read the comments, made the following changes- used 6oz of cream cheese with the full lb of pasta- generous with the brie cheese block- added 2/3 c whole milk with only 2 eggs- doubled the nutmeg, added some red pepper flakes - added an herby/garlic bread crumb top.The dish was still on the dry side and was missing that ooey goey component that I craved. I agree with the comments that for the cost of the fancy cheese, it’s missing delivery. Run from it, hide from it: use Velveeta

John

I should have read the comments first since the consistency was more souffle like. I added shrimp which was delicious. Future attempts will include more seasoning, adding cream, and reducing the eggs.

NDN

Fantastic. Used sour cream in place of mascarpone because I didn’t want to buy (since I hadn’t other uses planned for it). Will make again for sure.

audrey

My pasta cooled down too much after I drained it, so made a makeshift double boiler (used a metal bowl to mix cheese and pasta after straining) and that seemed to work! Just thought I’d leave a note in case anyone encounters the same problem :)

Lori

Cooked per directions. Way too dry. Sauce was like wet scrambled eggs with cheese.

Chef Dylan

I made this today, very skeptical about the eggs in it and it did come out like a frittata, dry I bet, it doesn’t show like the picture at all lol I even cooked it with way less time and at a lower temperature. Maybe if you were to do it like a carbonara it might be creamier, just saying

David

Do no over-bake. Eggs scrambled.

Jennaveev53

So here is a lower-fat (not low, stovetop version. We were cooking for two, weeknight-style. We used 1.5 c. tiny elbow macaroni, about 5 oz.triple cream Brie, 1/4 cup low-far sour cream. Mixed. Brie melted without any added heat (or butter). We sauteed some sirloin in small pces and some baby Portobello mushrooms, plus pepper, salt. Simple. Warming. No need for four cheeses! The Brie was easy, strong (had aged for a month) and delightful as the solo cheese flavor.

Angela

This came out so disappointingly dry. Should have read comments first.

Elise

I found the recipe very bland and tasteless compared to my normal recipe that uses sharp cheddar, especially when considering how much more expensive these ingredients are. I would not make this recipe again.

jimd

The different cheeses worked well, but this was much too dry for my taste. After tasting the finished dish I poured in 3 or 4cups of half-and-half and gave it another 6 minutes at 400 degrees F.

Alexis

everyone loved this- all crunchy mac and cheese fans i think (also added 3/4 cup shredded provolone because we had it and i couldnt resist)

CWN

After reading the comments, I took out the eggs and baked it covered with buttered foil for 15 minutes at 350. It came out nicely. I don't actually think it needs to be baked though. It could just get stirred together and served.

Stephen Schwab

Just made this. Over all not too bad. Can skip the mascarpone and use the entire block of cream cheese. It was dry and I thought it was because I used a metal pan. Use glass. Add cream. Still taste the flavors of the cheeses.I served it with a salad but also had a plate of chopped red onions and tomatoes to sprinkle on top (like my momma did). And plenty of red pepper flakes. (como hizo mi mama!)

Bay

I adjusted the recipe as suggested - 12 oz pasta, 1 egg, 350F for 20 mins. It was super tasty and my kids loved it.

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Four-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best combination of cheese for mac and cheese? ›

Sharp Cheddar + Medium Cheddar

But after a lot of testing, one of our most trusted recipe developers, Patty Catalano, declared that medium cheddar is the best option for ultra-creamy mac and cheese. It has more moisture and therefore melts more easily than sharp cheddar and yields a noticeably creamier sauce.

How does Gordon Ramsay make the best mac and cheese? ›

Preparation
  1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the pasta and milk. ...
  2. Once the pasta is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. ...
  3. Divide between serving bowls and top with the bread crumbs.
  4. Enjoy!
  5. All your favorite recipes, stored in one place.
May 4, 2023

How to fancy up mac and cheese? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Your Macaroni and Cheese Dinners
  1. Add extra cheese to your dish.
  2. Mix in some hot sauce and chicken to make buffalo chicken mac n' cheese.
  3. Add in vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.
  4. Sprinkle some bacon bits or breadcrumbs on the top of your dish.
  5. Add spices and fresh herbs to your dish.
May 21, 2022

What cheeses are not to use for mac and cheese? ›

Those preservatives keep the pieces from melting evenly, and you'll end up with gritty, lumpy mac & cheese. Dry, crumbly cheeses like feta or cotija are not ideal. With their high moisture levels, they don't melt properly and will leave you with clumps of cheese instead of a smooth sauce.

What kind of milk is best for mac and cheese? ›

Milk: Keeps our cheese sauce super creamy. I use whole milk or reduced-fat milk. Mustard and spices: A combination of Dijon mustard, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt makes this macaroni and cheese extra delicious. Cheese: I use white cheddar and parmesan or pecorino cheese.

What makes mac and cheese taste so good? ›

Butter: Butter adds tons of body and flavor to the sauce. It really helps it taste extra creamy and not just cheesy. Half and Half: Adding half and half to the macaroni does so much in amping up the creamy factor. If you don't have half and half, I'd recommend using whole milk.

What's in Bob Evans mac and cheese? ›

Cooked Enriched Pasta (Water, Elbow Macaroni [Semolina (Wheat), Niacin, Iron (Ferrous Sulfate), Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid]), Milk, Water, Pasteurized Process Cheese Spread (American Cheese [Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Water, Whey, Sodium Phosphate, Contains Less than 2% of ...

Whose mac and cheese is the best? ›

In the end, the classic macaroni and cheese brand took the crown. That's right, your standard box of Kraft is really the best boxed mac and cheese out there!

Why is my homemade mac and cheese not creamy? ›

Pro Tip: Don't use pre-shredded cheese. Many store-bought shredded cheese brands coat their cheese with an anti-caking agent than can make sauces grainy and less creamy. While it requires a bit of an arm workout, grating your own yields the best texture.

Can I use sour cream instead of milk for mac and cheese? ›

I think sour cream is a great substitute! However, it may change the flavor just slightly. For sour cream, mix it in just like I outlined in the cream cheese example, but with far less or no extra liquid. Sour cream is slightly sour (duh), so this may impact the final flavor a bit.

What not to do when making mac and cheese? ›

The 5 Biggest Mac & Cheese Mistakes
  1. Using Only Cheddar cheese. Because macaroni and cheese is English in origin, you might be tempted to make it with only cheddar cheese. ...
  2. Not Adding Spice and Seasoning with Salt. The flavor of the cheese is enhanced with spice. ...
  3. Choosing the Wrong Pasta. ...
  4. Overcooking. ...
  5. Skimping on the Toppings.
May 21, 2020

Why add sour cream to mac and cheese? ›

The trick to making the perfect French onion boxed mac and cheese is to swap out the milk and butter for sour cream. It has the same velvety richness as butter but with a pleasant tang. Plus, while it gets the same job done as the milk, it's a hundred times creamier, making the end result impossibly luscious.

How do you increase the flavor of cheese in mac and cheese? ›

Boil it better

Skip the draining step, and add more milk as the noodles cook, if needed. Once al dente, stir in an extra 1 cup of shredded cheese and voila: less powdered cheese flavor, more homemade vibes and a hint of cheesy goodness infused right into the macaroni itself.

What is the best combination for cheese? ›

Cheese Pairing Chart
Cheese textureFood
Semi-soft (Fontal, provolone)Apples, grapes, roasted or grilled vegetables
Semi-hard (Asiago, gouda)Nuts, dried fruit, dark chocolate
Hard cheese (Romano, Parmesan)Nuts, honey, olives, salted meats, fresh vegetables
1 more row

Do mozzarella and cheddar taste good together? ›

Mozzarella is known for its light taste that melts and stretches, then comes cheddar cheese with its rich and bold taste. Mix those two together and you get a delicious flavor that compliments American dishes and many more!

How many types of cheese are in mac and cheese? ›

I use multiple cheeses if it's homemade. Usually it's Gruyère, cheddar, havarti with dill, and some real Italian Parmesan. Sometimes I do a more fancy/adult style with Danish blue cheese, Munster, Gruyère, and Edam cheese.

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