3 Cheese Mac and Cheese

This triple cheese mac and cheese is pure creamy decadence, featuring sharp cheddar, pepper jack, and cream cheese for the most luxurious sauce you’ve ever tasted.

The secret to this show-stopping mac and cheese is the perfect balance of cheeses – tangy sharp cheddar, spicy pepper jack, and silky cream cheese create layers of flavor that’ll make your taste buds dance. Topped with a crispy, cheesy panko crust, every bite is pure heaven.

Ingredients

For the Mac and Cheese:

• 1 pound elbow macaroni noodles, cooked
• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups whole milk
• 1½ teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• 2 cups Pepper Jack cheese, divided

For the Topping:

• 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted

Steps

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, ensuring complete coverage to prevent sticking.
2. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt ½ cup butter. Add flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly to create a roux. The mixture should be bubbling but not browning.
3. Gradually add milk while whisking continuously. Add salt and pepper, bringing mixture to a boil while stirring constantly. The sauce should start thickening after about 3-4 minutes.
4. Add softened cream cheese in chunks, stirring until completely smooth with no lumps. This typically takes 2-3 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and stir in 1½ cups each of cheddar and Pepper Jack cheese until fully melted and smooth.
6. If your saucepan is large enough, add cooked noodles directly to the cheese sauce and stir to combine. Otherwise:
   • Pour noodles into the prepared baking dish
   • Pour cheese sauce over noodles
   • Carefully stir until all noodles are evenly coated
7. In a small bowl, combine Panko bread crumbs with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Add remaining ½ cup each of cheddar and Pepper Jack cheese, mixing well.
8. Sprinkle the topping mixture evenly over the macaroni and cheese.
9. Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the edges are bubbling. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Smart Swaps

• Use whole wheat pasta for extra fiber
• Substitute reduced-fat cheese to lower calories
• Try gluten-free pasta and breadcrumbs for a GF version

Make It Diabetes-Friendly

• Use chickpea or lentil pasta (reduces carbs by 25%)
• Replace half the pasta with cauliflower florets
• Use unsweetened almond milk instead of whole milk
• Portion into 1-cup servings (approximately 45g carbs per serving)

Pro Tips

• Shred cheese fresh for best melting
• Don’t overcook the pasta – keep it al dente
• Let cream cheese come to room temperature for smoothest sauce
• Rest 5-10 minutes before serving to set the sauce