Creamy Three-Cheese Baked Macaroni

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A velvety macaroni dish with a golden, crispy crust, featuring a trio of cheeses and a hint of Dijon for balanced richness. This American-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs elbow macaroni, unsalted butter, all-purpose flour for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 30 min Serves 4 American cuisine 650 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Using 1 tbsp unsalted butter, coat the inside of a 9x13-inch baking dish evenly, then set aside.
  2. Step 2: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz elbow macaroni and cook for 8 minutes until al dente; drain and set aside.
  3. Step 3: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 3 tbsp unsalted butter. Whisk in 3 tbsp all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute until golden. Gradually whisk in 2 cups whole milk, then cook for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
  4. Step 4: Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup shredded Gruyère cheese, 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, 1/4 tsp Dijon mustard, and 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper until melted and smooth.
  5. Step 5: Add the drained macaroni to the sauce and stir until evenly coated. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
  6. Step 6: In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs with 1 tbsp olive oil. Sprinkle evenly over the macaroni.
  7. Step 7: Bake for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden and bubbling around the edges.

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