The Best Four Cheese Mac and Cheese recipe with Bacon & Panko Bread Crumb Topping

heavy cream

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: milk + cornstarch

Greek yogurt reduces calories while maintaining creaminess

gorgonzola cheese

🥗Healthier: feta cheese

💰Cheaper: blue cheese

Feta is lower in calories and adds a tangy flavor.

Shred 1 cup each of Gruyere and Cheddar cheese, cutting them into small matchsticks and then squares.

Shred 1 cup each of Parmesan and Mozzarella cheese and set aside with the other cheeses to create a four cheese blend.

Slice 6 pieces of bacon into small pieces and set aside.

Chop parsley to yield about 1/2 cup, discarding most of the stems, and set aside.

Smash 4 cloves of garlic to remove the skins, then finely mince the garlic and set aside.

Preheat a pan over medium heat.

Add the sliced bacon to the preheated pan and cook until crispy, stirring occasionally.

Once the bacon is crispy and grease has rendered, add the minced garlic and chopped parsley to the pan and mix well.

Add 2 cups of panko bread crumbs to the pan and mix until they soak up the bacon grease.

Add 1 teaspoon of chili flakes to the breadcrumb mixture for heat and stir.

In a separate pot, bring water to a rolling boil and add salt.

Add 4 cups of macaroni to the boiling water and stir to prevent sticking. Boil for about 4.5 minutes until slightly undercooked, then strain the pasta.

In the same pan used for the breadcrumbs, melt 3 tablespoons of butter, then add 3 tablespoons of flour and cook to remove the raw flour taste.

Gradually add 3 cups of milk to the butter and flour mixture, one cup at a time, stirring continuously until thickened after about 5 minutes.

Add the four cheese blend to the thickened milk mixture, reserving some for the topping, and stir until melted and combined.

Combine the strained macaroni with the cheese sauce, mixing thoroughly to coat all the pasta.

Mix the reserved cheese with the breadcrumb mixture to create a topping.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and transfer the mac and cheese to an oven-safe pan.

Top the mac and cheese with the breadcrumb and cheese mixture and bake in the oven for about 5 minutes until the top is melty, being careful not to overbake to avoid drying out the dish.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens