An easy comfort food win — best cheesy pasta fix every time!
Author:Caroline Jones
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:20 minutes
Total Time:30 minutes
Yield:6 servings 1x
Category:Main Dish
Method:Stovetop
Cuisine:American
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
1 lb elbow macaroni
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup buttery cracker crumbs or toasted panko (optional topping)
1 tbsp butter (for topping)
Instructions
Boil & Prep Pasta: Cook macaroni in salted water until al dente, then drain.
Whisk the Roux: In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour, whisking constantly for 1–2 mins to form a roux.
Creamy Cheese Sauce Time: Slowly whisk in milk and cream. Let it simmer until thickened (about 4–5 mins), then stir in Dijon, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Now stir in all three cheeses until smooth and melty.
Mix & Marvel: Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to coat every noodle.
Top & Toast (Optional): In a skillet, melt 1 tbsp butter and toast the cracker crumbs or panko. Sprinkle over the mac for that crunchy, golden finish.
Notes
For extra creaminess, use freshly grated cheese instead of pre-shredded.
Adjust salt to taste if using salted butter.
For a crispy topping, broil for 1–2 minutes after adding the crumbs.