Ultimate Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups penne pasta
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 0.5 cup heavy whipping cream
• 0.5 cup half-and-half
• 0.5 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 0.5 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 0.5 cup Oaxaca cheese, shredded
• cooking spray

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Add penne pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 11 minutes. This ensures the pasta holds its shape in the bake.
3. In the meantime, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in heavy cream, half-and-half, and garlic salt for a flavorful base. Add Gruyere cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Oaxaca cheese. Stir continuously until all cheeses are melted and smooth. Drain the cooked pasta thoroughly and add it to the cheese sauce, stirring to coat every piece.
4. Lightly grease a casserole dish with cooking spray and pour in the creamy pasta mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is bubbly, melted, and lightly browned, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Let it cool slightly before serving.

Nutrition

• Calories: 300 kcal
• Fat Content: 21 g
• Fiber Content: 1 g
• Sugar Content: 1 g
• Sodium Content: 402 mg
• Protein Content: 14 g
• Cholesterol Content: 69 mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 15 g
• Saturated Fat Content: 13 g
• Unsaturated Fat Content: 0 g