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? ›

Cheddar and Monterey Jack are a match made in gooey heaven, especially when they're blanketed in tons of crisp topping. At last, a recipe that's as easy as the boxed stuff, but so much tastier. It relies on Monterey Jack, Parmesan and two smooth melters: American cheese and cream cheese.

What to add to mac and cheese to make it better? ›

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 does adding more milk to mac and cheese do? ›

Sauce too thick? Stir in a splash of milk and mix until the sauce has loosened up. (This is also a great trick for reheating mac and cheese - if you're microwaving leftovers and the sauce seems to have dried up, stir a splash of milk or half-and-half into the pasta to bring the sauce back to life!)

When making mac and cheese do you boil the water first? ›

  1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted (just a pinch) water to a vigorous boil (about 10-15 minutes to reach this point)
  2. Empty box of elbow macaroni into boiling water, stirring throughout until cooked through but firm to the bite (approximately 8-10 minutes)
  3. Drain the water from the cooked macaroni and put macaroni aside.

What cheeses not to use for mac and cheese? ›

Dry, crumbly cheeses like feta or cotija are not ideal.

What is the best cheese combo? ›

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

What not to do when making mac and cheese? ›

Here's what several experts say are the biggest mistakes when it comes to making macaroni and cheese at home and how to avoid making them.
  1. Using Only Cheddar cheese. ...
  2. Not Adding Spice and Seasoning with Salt. ...
  3. Choosing the Wrong Pasta. ...
  4. Overcooking. ...
  5. Skimping on the Toppings.
May 21, 2020

How do you make mac and cheese creamy again? ›

"Stir in about 2 Tbs. of milk per 1 cup of mac and cheese and reheat," he says. The milk loosens up the pasta and helps create the creamy sauce as it's reheating. Heavy cream works well in this case too and adds an extra touch of richness to the mac and cheese.

What makes mac and cheese taste so good? ›

Great mac n' cheese needs one or more cheeses that melt well, and one or more cheeses that bring the flavor. The best melters include monterey jack, fontina, baby swiss, asiago, provolone, mozzarella, and alpine-style. Cheeses for flavor: cheddar, havarti, smoked gouda, gorgonzola, feta and any other of your favorites.

Is it better to use evaporated milk or regular milk in mac and cheese? ›

Key #2: Use Evaporated Milk

Evaporated milk is a highly concentrated source of milk protein micelles—bundles of proteins that can act as powerful emulsifying agents—which help to keep the sauce creamy and smooth.

What happens if you add more butter to mac and cheese? ›

You could start by adding double the butter called for on the box and adjusting as needed -- it may require some trial and error the first time around, but it will be worth it. The result will be a bowl of mac and cheese that is so rich and creamy that you may even forget that it came from a box.

How to keep macaroni and cheese creamy? ›

Cream cheese: Here's my secret ingredient for the best creamy mac and cheese. A little cream cheese adds a lovely silky texture to the sauce.

What happens if you use water instead of milk in mac and cheese? ›

Water actually works perfectly well as a milk substitute in mac and cheese. It adds all the liquid you need, though it doesn't have the creaminess or flavor that other substitutes add. However, if you add a little pasta water, instead of plain tap water, to your cheese sauce, you might get better results.

What happens if you put the macaroni in before the water boils? ›

Adding the pasta to water that isn't boiling will actually increase your overall cook time and cause your pasta to sit in the water longer. You will end up with pasta that has absorbed too much water with a mushy texture. Be patient and wait for a rapid boil; it'll pay off.

How long do you boil macaroni for? ›

Cook the macaroni in a large saucepan of boiling salted water for 8-10 minutes; drain well and set aside.

What is the best melting cheese? ›

What is the best melting cheese? Cheeses with more moisture and lower melting points - cheddar is one of the most popular choices, but Swiss and Gruyère are also terrific options.

What is the most popular type of cheese? ›

MOZZARELLA – THE WORLD's MOST POPULAR CHEESE.

Is mozzarella good for mac and cheese? ›

This one-dish wonder super-charges the cheesy flavor, taking ordinary mac and cheese from comfort food to "wow!" food. Follow three easy steps to get this dinner on the table in 30 minutes.

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