While lighter fare festoons our springtime tables, and cobwebs take up residence in our ovens, can we still agree that hearty comfort food is sometimes in order? Can we throw out the rules and treat ourselves to some Three Cheese Mac & Cheese Italian-Style? You know you want to!
I imagine by now it will come as no surprise that there is never a shortage of pasta in our house. Sometimes I think my collection is large enough to keep Barilla in business.
If my sea of blue boxes evaporates to a puddle, I begin to hive. Life seems to run better when I have more than a few boxes in my pantry. Whether it’s spaghetti that I can dress up in fresh herbs and olive oil, penne in an ever-so fashionable lemon-basil vinaigrette, or curly elbows accompanied by a trio of cheeses, we are guaranteed a great meal that’s just minutes away.
And with Chels home, she has taken our pasta party to a whole new level.
Not only does she create an exemplary dish by combining Cheddar, Double Gloucester and GranQuesto with a pasta that’s cooked to a perfect al dente, but she does it in style…just look at that manicure! Love it!
I adore these cheeses. Together, they form a sauce that is anything but dull. Words like smooth, buttery, mellow and sweet come quickly to mind as I ponder the deliciousness of this dish.
And with the GranQueso offering a distinctive bite with hints of citrus, spice and hazelnut, I can’t help but want to go in for seconds.
And don’t get me started on the Italian style Panko breadcrumbs…I’m not sure I can handle it. Their herb-y crunch playing off the creaminess of the cheese is a thing of beauty.
I tell you what…if you can’t bring yourself to cleaning out the webs on a sunny day, then save this recipe for a rainy day.
You’ll be glad you did.
Buon Appetito!
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Hearty Three Cheese Mac and Cheese Italian Style
Ingredients
- 1 lb. elbow macaroni
- 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
- 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 2/3 lb. grated Cheddar
- 2/3 lb. grated Double Gloucester
- 2/3 lb. grated GranQueso
- Salt and black pepper
- 1 cup Italian seasoned Panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni according to package instructions.
- Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- In a small skillet over medium heat, melt 2 Tbsp. butter and add the breadcrumbs. Cook until crumbs absorb the butter and become toasty. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 Tbsp. butter.
- Sprinkle the flour into the butter and stir with a whisk, cooking for 2 minutes.
- Whisk the milk into the flour mixture, working out any lumps.
- Cook until the sauce thickens, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and add the three cheeses.
- Stir until melted and smooth.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour cooled macaroni into a large mixing bowl.
- Fold the cheese sauce into macaroni and fully combine.
- Pour the mac and cheese into a shallow pan and sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until heated through and the cheese is perfectly melted.
- Serve warm.
Ciao!
I never care about seasons when it comes to satisfying my cravings! I make chowder in the middle of summer 🙂
OK, you know I bow to you as the queen of Italian cooking so THIS is the next Mac N Cheese I’m making!
Ooooo- now I’m craving chowder! Ha! Well, thank you my dear! I hope you like it!!
Wowza! This is the cheesiest mac and cheese I’ve seen in a while. I would love to curl up with a big bowl of this during a busy weeknight. Thank you for sharing.
That sounds perfect! This is ideal ‘curl up’ food at the end of a busy day! Thanks, friend!
Oh man…mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food. This looks so perfect! Can’t wait to try it!!
Thanks, Annie! Enjoy!:)
I am 100% on board with this mac and cheese during every season! I say lower the temp on the A/C and crank up that oven! And that is one fun and stylish manicure!
Yesyesyes! I like the way you think! There’s definitely a Mac n’ cheese for every season! Thanks, dear!
I love a good homemade mac and cheese, and the panko topping on this one probably gives it that amazing crunch + the gooey-ness of the cheeses…umm mouthwatering! I’ll have to give this recipe a shot.
Panko is where it’s at! It makes everything extra special! Thanks for stopping by, Vineetha!
Oh my goodness, Annie! Mac & cheese is the ultimate comfort dish that I can enjoy all year long! Yours looks absolutely perfect – so gooey and delicious! I just want to dive right in head first! Love those gorgeous photos! Simply mouthwatering!
I know! We just can’t resist a good Mac n’ cheese can we? Thanks, friend!
Wow, so cheesy! Love this dish! So good! Need to make it pretty soon! Love the pictures!
Thanks, Mira! Enjoy!!
Oh this gooey deliciousness – nicely done, Annie! I’ve been planning to make Mac&Cheese since May, but I haven’t figured out what kind summer version I could make. Perhaps, I should start thinking about a fall version – there are much more options haha:)
Hahahah! I would agree! So many options for cooler weather. But we had a craving and needed to feed it! Thanks, Ben!
this looks amazing Annie! so cheesy and perfect comfort food. the three cheese sauce sounds fantastic!
Thank you, Manali! This is a keeper!
I’m the hugest pasta fan but Mac and cheese is one of my all time favorites. Love your take on it – the three cheese twist – the more cheese the better! I too have a Barilla problem – they have so many great shapes – I stock up on them all. Lovely photos, Annie – cheers to your daughter as well!
I tell you what, this combination is incredible! I think you’ll really like it! Thanks, friend! 🙂
Oh my! This is my kind of mac and cheese, this looks amazing! I absolutely love mac and cheese, it’s the best comfort food 😉
So awesome!! It’s incredible how easily you can switch out ingredients and still come out with comfort to the max! Thank you, dear!
I completely support this mac and cheese making a presence during summer!! I can’t completely give up on my oven or comfort food, just because it’s hot out! This mac sounds creamy, dreamy and absolutely 100% out of this world delish! The combination of cheeses has me drooling! This looks amazing, but I wouldn’t expect anything else from you, my dear! ♡Cheers! P.s.- LOVE your daughters manicure!!!!
You are so right! There’s never a wrong time for comfort food! Thank you so much, dearest!
Oh hey, you know I’ll turn my oven on for anything if it involves food, let alone mac and cheese! Sometimes it wouldn’t matter anyway if the oven comes on in the Summer, it can get so dang hot! In the PNW, it’s been brutal this Summer – not normal at all.
Nice work Chels!! Hehe, Barilla if you’re listening! You may have to get a storage shed for all your, pasta, Annie. This could be a borderline problem! hehe!! I’m with ya! Delicious recipe, pure comfort and agreed on the panko. I’ve not tried Gran Queso, but look forward to finding it and trying it out. I know if you love it, I will too! Thank you my friend!!
Oh man! I’d love even a couple days of brutal! We just experienced our third rainiest June in history. Ugh! Now you know why the cupboards are stocked! Thanks so much my dear…and Chels says thanks! 🙂
Oh my gosh – these photos are absolutely mouth watering!
Thank you so much, my dear!!
I am also a loyal Barilla user 😉 Annie, this just screams comfort food! Mac n’ cheese is one of my all-time childhood favorites and I love your adult, Italian version with those brilliant cheeses! And my stomach literally just growled… I need this in my belly! 🙂
Hahah! Yes, Barilla Buddy! Gotta love our classic dishes!! Thanks, friend!
Oh my god, this looks to die for! Pinning and I love the cheeses you’ve used and that you used panko, rather than traditional breadcrumbs! So delicious 🙂
Thanks so much, Medha! I’ve had my fair share of Mac & Cheese, and this one ranks at the top! The combination of cheese is incredible!
This looks ooey, gooey, scrumptious! I’ve never heard of Double Gloucester and GranQueso so I’ll check them out when I hit up Whole Foods next trip. I love Mac & Cheese and this one and that killer photo of the macaroni spilled over, is excellent. The crunchy topping is always a MUST. Thanks Annie. 🙂
Oh man, I definitely recommend that you try both. I don’t think I’ve ever met a cheese I didn’t like (oops- except for Goat), and these are no exception! Thanks for your kind words, my friend!
Three cheese mac and cheese looks pretty gorgeous and delish, Annie! Loving all awesomely inviting flavors here!
We don’t eat a lot of Mac & Cheese in the summer, so when we do it’s gotta be good! This works! Thanks, friend!
Mac ‘n cheese is pretty much the best comfort food! This looks amazing, Annie! I love the three cheese and spices in here. Pinned!
Agreed! The best! Thanks, Gayle!!