Five Cheese Baked Macaroni and Cheese
The following recipe and photography was provided by Christina Musgrave of Tasting with Tina.
For many families, macaroni and cheese is a staple Thanksgiving side dish.
If this dish is part of your traditions, you likely have a recipe you make annually. If you’re looking to shake things up or make macaroni and cheese a new Thanksgiving tradition for your family, we have you covered with this indulgent Five Cheese Baked Macaroni and Cheeses.
This mac and cheese is decadent, flavorful, and most importantly, easy to make. It all starts with Heinen’s Hand-Selected Cheeses! You may be wondering how I was able to find five cheeses with flavors and textures that blend harmoniously in one dish. In Heinen’s Specialty Cheese Department, finding enough cheese is never a challenge thanks so their seemingly endless assortment of local, domestic, and international cheeses.
If I am ever feeling overwhelmed by all the options, I ask my local Heinen’s Cheesemonger for a recommendation based on what I am making or opt for any of Heinen’s Hand-Selected Cheeses. Heinen’s offers various styles of cheese under their Hand-Selected product line. As the name suggests, these cheeses are hand-vetted by Heinen’s own cheese experts to guarantee quality and they’re available at affordable price points! This recipe calls for the following Heinen’s Hand-Selected Cheeses:
- Heinen’s Hand-Selected A2 Grass Fed Organic Extra Sharp Raw Cheddar
- Heinen’s Hand-Selected Parmigiano Reggiano
- Heinen’s Hand-Selected Pecorino Romano
- Heinen’s Hand-Selected Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese
The richness of the cheeses blends beautifully with the cream sauce that makes this mac so indulgent! You can easily prep this dish ahead of time and bake right before your Thanksgiving meal is served. Your friends and family will love this special recipe for the holidays!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It Features Heinen’s Hand-Selected Cheeses. Heinen’s line of Hand-Selected Cheeses features an assortment of domestic and international cheeses available in a variety of styles and at affordable price points. From A2 organic grass fed selections to Italian-imported Parmigiano Reggiano, the options are endless and guaranteed to be of the highest quality.
- It Can be Prepped in Advance. Cooking on Thanksgiving Day can be stressful. Save yourself time and hassle by making this dish the night before your gathering and popping it in the oven right before the big meal.
- It’s Quick to Prep. Whether you prep this dish the day before or the day of your main meal, your time investment in the kitchen will be minimal, as this recipe only calls for 10 minutes of hands-on prep.
Five Cheese Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Servings: 10
Ingredients
- 1 lb. macaroni noodles
- 4 Tbsp. Heinen’s butter
- 4 Tbsp. flour
- 2 cups Heinen’s whole milk
- 1 cup Heinen’s heavy whipping cream
- 1 tsp. Heinen’s onion granules
- 1 tsp. Heinen’s garlic granules
- 1 tsp. Heinen’s sage
- 1 cup Heinen’s Hand-Selected A2 Grass Fed Organic Extra Sharp Raw Cheddar, shredded
- 1 cup Heinen’s Hand-Selected Parmigiano Reggiano, shredded
- 1 cup Heinen’s Hand-Selected Pecorino Romano, shredded
- 1 cup gruyere cheese, shredded
- 2 cups Heinen’s Hand-Selected Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese, shredded and divided
Instructions
- Cook the pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Heat the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Once melted, add the flour and whisk until combined. Slowly add the milk and heavy whipping cream. Stir until combined and smooth.
- Add the onion granules, garlic granules, and sage. Stir.
- Slowly add the Heinen’s Hand-Selected Organic A2 Raw Grass Fed Extra Sharp Cheddar, Heinen’s Hand-Selected Parmigiano Reggiano, Heinen’s Hand-Selected Pecorino Romano, gruyere cheese, and 1 cup of Heinen’s Hand-Selected Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese. Continue to stir until melted.
- Add the pasta to the pot and stir until combined. If the mixture is too thick, add a little more milk to loosen up the cheese.
- Top with the remaining 1 cup of Heinen’s Hand-Selected Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese. Bake directly in a Dutch oven or in a greased 9×13 pan for 35 minutes, until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and let cool. Serve.
