Description
Christmas Mac and Cheese is the ultimate easy holiday dinner side dish with a creamy, cheesy center and a golden baked topping everyone loves. This easy recipe is perfect for Christmas dinner, potlucks, comfort food cravings, and festive food ideas when you need a rich, crowd-pleasing casserole that feels special without being complicated.
Ingredients
12 ounces elbow macaroni
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup Gruyere cheese, shredded
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the elbow macaroni until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
4. Slowly pour in the milk and heavy cream, whisking constantly until smooth and slightly thickened.
5. Stir in the cream cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper until fully blended.
6. Reduce the heat to low and add the cheddar, Gruyere, mozzarella, and half of the Parmesan cheese. Stir until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
7. Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir until evenly coated.
8. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly.
9. Sprinkle the top with the remaining Parmesan cheese and the panko breadcrumbs.
10. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbly and golden on top.
11. Let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes, then garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
Notes
Use freshly shredded cheese for the smoothest sauce and best melt.
Cook the pasta just to al dente so it stays tender after baking.
Add a splash of milk when reheating leftovers to bring back the creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 85mg