Cheesecake Factory Mac and Cheese
This copycat recipe for Cheesecake Factory Mac and Cheese is easy to make and the perfect side dish for so many things!
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Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 622kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni cooked al dente
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese shredded
- ½ cup gouda cheese shredded
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup monterey jack cheese shredded
- ½ cup butter + 2 tablespoons divided for breadcrumb topping
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¾ cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Prepare macaroni according to package directions, under cooking slightly so they are firm.
- Drain and pour noodles into prepared baking dish.
- Combine all the shredded cheese in a bowl and toss to mix.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt ½ cup butter.
- Stir in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes to remove raw flour taste.
- Reduce heat to low. Pour in the cream and whisk continually to thicken.
- Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in seasonings and half the cheese mixture.
- Pour over the noodles in the baking dish and gently stir to combine.
- Spread into an even layer and top with remaining cheese.
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small dish. Add the breadcrumbs and stir to combine.
- Sprinkle breadcrumb and butter mixture over the top of the mac and cheese.
- Bake 25-30 minutes until bubbly and the breadcrumbs are a golden brown.
- Remove and garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- Not a big Alfredo fan but still want to try it? You can also mix in marinara, which creates more of a tomato taste and offers an interesting twist on this recipe.
- To create the famous fried macaroni and cheese (one of my favorite things from Cheesecake Factory), start by creating the base through this recipe. From there, you can freeze small pieces of the mac and cheese, before dunking in an egg mixture (usually just an egg wash created from whisking eggs) and coating in breadcrumbs. Deep fry, and enjoy!
- If you’re a fan of adding some pasta water to your dishes for creaminess, make sure to fill the medium saucepan for your noodles with cold water. This creates quicker cook times and also creates starchier water than using room temperature, perfect for increasing the creaminess of your sauce.
- Shred your own cheese instead of buying it. This will ensure that you get the most flavor, since most shredded cheeses are covered in starch to work as an anti-clumping agent.
- Turn this into cheese burger mac and cheese by mixing in ground beef along with your noodles and sauce.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 622kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 28g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 753mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g