Ultimate Creamy Mac & Cheese Recipe - You Won't Believe The Secret Ingredient!

heavy cream

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: milk + cornstarch

Greek yogurt reduces calories while maintaining creaminess

cheddar cheese

🥗Healthier: reduced-fat cheddar

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Reduced-fat cheddar offers a lighter option without sacrificing flavor.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil provides healthy fats and a different flavor profile.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: string cheese

Part-skim mozzarella is lower in fat, while string cheese is often cheaper.

Welcome viewers and introduce the recipe for mac and cheese.

Discuss the use of five different cheeses: sharp cheddar, smoked gouda, mozzarella, colby jack, and pecorino romano.

Advise viewers to shred their own cheese instead of using pre-shredded cheese for better melting.

Melt 3 to 4 tablespoons of butter in a Dutch oven or heavy-bottom skillet.

Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of flour to the melted butter to create a roux.

Add 1 tablespoon of garlic (minced or paste) to the roux and mix.

Incorporate chicken bouillon powder into the roux for flavor.

Add 1 tablespoon of sweetened condensed milk to the roux to help marry the flavors.

Mix in 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour to the roux and season with garlic and herb seasoning.

Once the roux is formed, add 2 cups of heavy cream and 1 cup of whole milk, bringing the mixture to a boil.

Salt the pasta water and add elbow macaroni, boiling according to package instructions (9 to 11 minutes).

Once the sauce reaches a boil, reduce the heat to low and begin adding the cheeses, starting with pecorino romano.

Add smoked gouda cheese to the sauce, stirring to combine as it melts.

Incorporate sharp cheddar cheese, stirring continuously to ensure proper melting.

Add mozzarella cheese, continuing to stir and combine until melted.

Taste the cheese sauce and adjust seasoning if necessary, adding smoked paprika for enhanced flavor.

Once the cheese sauce reaches the desired consistency, proceed to combine it with the cooked macaroni.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens