Description
This Velvety Thanksgiving Mac and Cheese is rich, creamy, and irresistibly cheesy — the ultimate holiday comfort dish! 🧀🍂 Perfect alongside turkey or on its own.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz elbow macaroni
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Gruyère or Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly butter a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook pasta until al dente, drain, and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk constantly for 1–2 minutes.
- Gradually whisk in milk and cream until the sauce thickens and smooths out.
- Lower heat and stir in cheeses until melted and velvety. Season with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Combine cooked pasta with the cheese sauce and mix well.
- Transfer to baking dish. Combine panko with melted butter and sprinkle evenly over top.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes or until golden and bubbling. Garnish with parsley before serving.
Notes
🍽️ Tip: Add a sprinkle of crispy bacon or caramelized onions for an extra Thanksgiving twist. Perfect side for turkey, ham, or roasted veggies!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Side Dish, Thanksgiving Recipes, Comfort Food
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 560mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: thanksgiving mac and cheese, creamy baked macaroni, holiday side dish, cheesy pasta, comfort food recipe