Ultimate Mac and Cheese
- 25 Minutes Prep 50 Minutes Total
- 6 Servings
- 850 Calories per Serving
Searching for the cheesiest mac 'n' cheese? Try our rich and creamy take with 4 real cheeses.
Ingredient List
- 5 cups uncooked penne pasta (16 oz)
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 1/2 cups milk
- 1 cup shredded provolone cheese (4 oz)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 oz)
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (2 oz)
- 1/2 cup shredded fontina cheese (2 oz)
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
- 1 cup Progresso™ panko bread crumbs
Preparation
- Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
- Meanwhile, in 4-quart saucepan or Dutch oven, melt 1/2 cup butter over low heat. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds, stirring frequently. With wire whisk, stir in flour and salt until smooth. Increase heat to medium; cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Gradually stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in cheeses. Cook until melted, stirring occasionally. Stir pasta and parsley into cheese sauce. Pour mixture into baking dish.
- In 6-inch skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat; stir in bread crumbs. Cook and stir until crumbs are golden brown. Sprinkle over pasta mixture.
- Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly.
Tips
- Panko bread crumbs are Japanese-style bread crumbs. They have a coarser texture and make for a much lighter and crunchier casserole. In a pinch, regular bread crumbs will also work.
- Slightly undercook the penne for a perfect al dente pasta in the casserole.
Nutrition Information
Servings: 6
Serving size: 1 Serving
Amount per serving (Calories ): 850
| Food component / Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | 39g | 59% |
| Saturated Fat | 23g | 113% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | % Value not available |
| Cholesterol | 100mg | 34% |
| Sodium | 1390mg | 58% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 91g | 30% |
| Dietary Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Soluble Fiber | 1g | % Value not available |
| Sugars | 12g | % Value not available |
| Protein | 35g | % Value not available |
| Vitamin D | Value not available | 25% |
| Vitamin E | Value not available | 4% |
| Calcium | Value not available | 70% |
| Iron | Value not available | 20% |
| Potassium | 460mg | 13% |
| Thiamin | Value not available | 45% |
| Riboflavin | Value not available | 50% |
| Niacin | Value not available | 20% |
| Vitamin B6 | Value not available | 10% |
| Vitamin B12 | Value not available | 30% |
| Pantothenic Acid | Value not available | 10% |
| Phosphorus | Value not available | 60% |
| Magnesium | Value not available | 20% |
| Zinc | Value not available | 25% |
| Manganese | Value not available | 35% |
| Selenium | Value not available | 100% |
| Copper | Value not available | 15% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | ||
Exchanges
- Starch 5,
- Fruit 0,
- Other Carbohydrate 1,
- Skim Milk 0,
- Low-Fat Milk 0,
- Milk 0,
- Vegetable 0,
- Very Lean Meat 0,
- Lean Meat 0,
- Medium-Fat Meat 0,
- High-Fat Meat 3,
- Fat 2,
- Fruits 0c,
- Vegetables 0c,
- Grains 3oz-eq,
- Meat & Beans 0oz-eq,
- Dairy 2c,
- Fats & Oils 4tsp
Carbohydrate Choice
- Choices per serving6
