Smoky Four Cheese Macaroni Bake

Description

This rich macaroni combines the savory flavors of Swiss, Monterey Jack, sharp Cheddar, and Parmesan cheeses along with sauteed garlic and onion to make a creamy sauce to die for. Add a little liquid smoke for a, well, smoky taste.

Ingredients

  • 1 (12 ounce) package macaroni
  • ¼ cup butter
  • ½ cup minced onion
  • 1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup half-and-half cream
  • 1 ½ cups milk
  • ½ teaspoon dry mustard powder
  • ½ teaspoon liquid smoke flavoring (Optional)
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, cubed
  • 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
  • 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • ⅓ cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • ½ cup bread crumbs
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
  3. Meanwhile
  4. melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion
  5. and cook for 3 minutes until it begins to soften. Add the garlic
  6. and continue cooking until the onion has softened and turned translucent
  7. about 2 minutes more. Slowly stir in the flour
  8. and cook
  9. stirring constantly for 5 minutes.
  10. Stir in the half-and-half and milk
  11. and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in mustard powder and liquid smoke; simmer for 10 minutes
  12. stirring occasionally. Add 1 cup of Parmesan cheese
  13. along with the cream cheese
  14. Swiss
  15. Monterey Jack
  16. and Cheddar cheeses; stir until melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper
  17. then stir in the drained macaroni noodles. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs over the macaroni
  18. Bake in preheated oven until bubbly and brown
  19. about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Prep Time: 40 mins

Cook Time: 55 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 40 mins

Servings: 8

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