Holiday Mac & Cheese Bake

Ingredients

For the Pasta

  • 1 lb gluten free short pasta

  • Salt for boiling water

For the Cheese Sauce

  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter

  • 4 tbsp all-purpose flour

  • 4 cups whole milk (warm)

  • 1 cup heavy cream

  • 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

  • 1 cup gruyère cheese, shredded

  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened

  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard

  • 1 tsp garlic powder

  • 1 tsp onion powder

  • ½ tsp smoked paprika

  • ½ tsp ground black pepper

  • ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)

Directions

For the Topping

  • 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs

  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

  • ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

  • ½ cup roasted red bell pepper, finely diced (optional but festive)

  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

  2. Add pasta and cook until al dente.

  3. Drain and set aside. Do NOT rinse, leaving some starch helps the sauce cling.

Make the cheese sauce

  1. In a large pot, melt 4 tbsp butter over medium heat.

  2. Add 4 tbsp of gluten free flour and whisk constantly for 1–2 minutes to form a roux.

  3. Slowly pour in the warm milk while whisking vigorously to avoid lumps.

  4. Add the heavy cream.

  5. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 5–7 minutes).

  6. Turn heat to low and add:

    1. Cheddar

    2. Gruyère

    3. Cream cheese

  7. Mix until everything is melted and smooth.
    Stir in:

    1. Dijon mustard

    2. Garlic powder

    3. Onion powder

    4. Smoked paprika

    5. Salt & pepper

  8. Combine pasta + sauce

  1. Add the cooked pasta directly into the cheese sauce.

  2. Stir gently to coat every piece.

  3. If it seems too thick, add a splash of milk—pasta will absorb sauce as it bakes.

  1. In a bowl, mix the breadcrumb toppings

  1. Panko breadcrumbs

  2. Melted butter

  3. Parmesan

  1. Assemble the bake

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

  2. Transfer mac & cheese into a greased 9×13 baking dish or round casserole.

  3. Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top.

  4. Add roasted red pepper bits for color.

  5. Finish with chopped parsley if desired.

  1. Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes