Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese

Sometimes the simplest recipes are the ones we love most. Try this new twist on an old favorite with Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese.

I love that it is a simple dish, but yet so much better than the boxed version. Plus you can add so much more to homemade recipes. I have to keep it simple because the kids get freaked out when there are things in any food dish I make.

Things like, onions, tomatoes, olives, peppers, so I leave them out or make two as I did with my Quiche this week. They don’t like spinach, so I made another with bacon replacing the spinach and they ate it up.

This is the first time I used Gouda but I noticed a lot of restaurants I have been to make Mac and Cheese with Gouda, so I thought I would try it. I mixed the sharp cheddar with it and it was a completely different taste, but so good.  

Now if I had my way, I would have added black olives and onions. I like a little more texture and crunch in my foods and I think that would have just added the right amount. I did add a bread crumb on top which changed it up a bit.

This was a really big batch and I was able to use all the leftover macaroni I had from the minestrone soup I made last week, so I was glad to get a lot of use out of that one box. Plus there were leftovers for lunch the next day.

This meal is made partly on the stove and finishes up in the oven. I made it at lunchtime while the kids were in school and just heated it up for dinner with some salad. I am finding that easier than waiting until 4:00 pm to start dinner when the kids are home and need more of my attention. You can also try my skillet beefy mac and cheese recipe. It is another family favorite.

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5 from 4 votes

Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese

This Mac and Cheese is a little more grown-up than the boxed brand with its smoky flavor of Gouda and bread crumbs on top.

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword baked macaroni and cheese, fancy macaroni and cheese, macaroni and cheese

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 1113kcal

Author Candi Elm

Ingredients

• 16 oz elbow macaroni cooked and drained
• 4 Tablespoons butter
• 2 1/4 cups skim milk
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
• 2 Teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 Teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 Teaspoon dry mustard
• 2 Teaspoons worcestershire
• 1 lb smoked gouda cheese shredded
• 1/2 lb sharp cheddar cheese shredded
• 4 slices bread
• 3 Tablespoons butter melted
• Onions (optional)
• Sliced Black olives (optional)

Instructions

• Prepare macaroni according to package directions. Set aside.
• In large pot, melt butter over medium high heat. Add skim milk and bring to near boiling. Reduce heat to medium and sprinkle in flour. Whisk vigorously over medium heat for 1-2 minutes. Mixture should be thick and boiling. Slowly add cream, while whisking. Add in salt, pepper, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Reduce heat to low and continue to stir for about 5 minutes.
• In food processor, shred Gouda and Cheddar cheese. Add to pot, stir until thoroughly combined.
• Add cooked macaroni to cheese mixture. Pour into a 13×9 dish.
• In same food processor bowl process 4 slices of bread to a fine crumb. Add melted butter. Sprinkle over macaroni.
• Bake uncovered in a 375 degree oven for 25-30 minutes.

Notes

Don’t like gouda? Swap it out! I recommend pairing a fairly strong cheese with the cheddar to get the best flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 1113kcal | Carbohydrates: 82g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 67g | Saturated Fat: 41g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 218mg | Sodium: 1917mg | Potassium: 553mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 2133IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 1000mg | Iron: 3mg

If you enjoyed this smoked Gouda macaroni and cheese recipe try this one:

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese