This gouda mac and cheese ain't any old mac and cheese - it's the ultimate way to indulge in classic comfort food! The combination of nutty gouda and creamy cheddar in this gouda mac and cheese recipe is sure to hit the spot. With easy-to-follow instructions, this rich and flavorful dish is sure to please!
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💭 Why you'll love this recipe
If you thought mac and cheese couldn't get any better, think again! This gouda mac and cheese is sure to have your taste buds begging for more (just like my kimchi mac n cheese).
- Cheesy goodness at its finest. Gouda is one of the most flavorful cheeses. It pairs perfectly with the richness of cheddar cheese in this delicious recipe. Plus, gouda melts beautifully, so your mac will have the perfect gooey texture!
- It's kid-friendly. With its mild flavor and cheesy goodness, this dish is sure to be a hit among little ones as well as adults alike.
- Easy to make and customize. It takes less than 40 minutes to make this delicious dish from start to finish, and you can either bake to perfection or serve without baking - easy, peasy!
📋 Ingredients and Notes
To make this gouda mac and cheese recipe, you'll need: elbow macaroni, kosher salt, butter, yellow onion, all-purpose flour, mustard powder, black pepper, whole milk, cheddar cheese, and the star of it all - gouda!
Notes and Variations
- Choice of gouda. We have tested this recipe with both regular and smoked gouda cheese. Both work great, and it's really a matter of your preference which one you use! If you want a more smokey flavor and can find smoked gouda easily in your grocery store, go with that. If you want something more classic and simple, stick with regular gouda.
- Substitute cheese. If you don't have gouda cheese, you can substitute with white cheddar or gruyere and offer similar melty goodness in your dish. Likewise, you can choose between a classic cheddar or a more rustic sharp cheddar for enhanced flavor (I personally love sharp cheddar in this recipe!)
- Make a healthier version of gouda mac and cheese, by using a reduced-fat cheese such as gouda lite or low-fat cheddar. Replace some of the butter in the cheesy sauce with Greek yogurt or a light cream cheese to give it a creamy texture without adding too much fat. Trade pasta with cauliflower or chickpea macaroni for a low-carb alternative.
- Substitute milk. This recipe calls for whole milk, but you can easily use skim or unsweetened plant-based milk like soy and oat as well. You can also use heavy cream and/or half and half for a more indulgent variation.
- Toppings and mix-ins. This recipe calls for extra gouda cheese as a topping. You can make your own breadcrumb topping, give it an extra zing by adding jalapeños or a few shakes of hot sauce, or bulk up the dish by adding cooked broccoli, cooked bell peppers or spinach.
📖 How to make gouda mac and cheese
Start by preheating the oven to 375˚F. Grease a 9” skillet (or 9x13” pan) with cooking spray and/or butter.
Add salt to a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Cook macaroni until al dente (according to package directions) and drain. Set aside.
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. You can use either salted or unsalted butter in this dish. Reduce the amount of salt you use in the next step if you're using salted butter.
Add onion and cook until translucent about 5 minutes. Stir in the flour, mustard powder, pepper, and salt. Let the flour cook for 1 minute, stirring often.
Slowly pour in milk, stirring or whisking continuously, and cook until thickened (a few minutes). This is called a roux.
Pro Tip: This is called a roux and it an important component in mac and cheese because it acts as a thickening agent, and prevents the sauce from becoming runny or separating.
Add in the shredded cheeses and stir until it melts into a creamy cheese sauce.
Remove from heat. Stir in the cooked pasta after draining. Transfer the macaroni to the prepared baking dish.
Pro Tip: I have cooked the pasta in a separate dish, but you can also make this dish in a sufficiently large cast iron skillet, so you can just pop the skillet right into the oven.
Top with remaining cheese in an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes, until the cheese, is melted and lightly browned.
👩🏽🍳 Top Tips for Making Gouda Mac and Cheese!
For the creamiest, most delicious gouda mac and cheese imaginable, keep these helpful tips in mind:
- Cook pasta al dente. Since you bake the pasta after cooking it, if you cook for too long they will become soft and mushy.
- Pick high-quality cheese and grate it fresh. Use gouda cheese with a high fat content for maximum creaminess and flavor. Pre-grated cheese tends to have additives to prevent them from sticking, and will not melt as well as freshly grated cheese.
- Get the right creamy texture. Adding too much milk can make it too runny or watery. Start by adding 1½ cups of milk, add more if needed. Try half-and-half and/or whipping cream along with whole milk to make the cheese sauce extra rich and smooth.
- Don't forget to season. A little salt and pepper goes a long way when it comes to this gouda mac and cheese. Make sure to season the sauce before pouring it over the pasta so that each bite has just the right amount of seasoning without being overbearing!
- Bake until perfection. Top with more gouda and bake until golden brown on top. To add more texture, make your own breadcrumb topping by combining Panko breadcrumbs and melted butter, then sprinkle it over the top of the gouda mac and cheese before baking to get a crunchy golden finish.
👩🏽🍳 Troubleshooting FAQs
Gouda is definitely a great melting cheese for mac and cheese! Its creamy texture and nutty flavor makes it the perfect addition to this classic dish.
Yes! Honestly, in my mind, they're the ultimate cheese pairing. Gouda is a semi-hard cow milk cheese with a slightly sweet and nutty flavor that pairs amazingly with the sharp, creamy flavor of cheddar.
There are a couple of ways to make this dish healthier. You can swap the noodles with cauliflower or chickpea macaroni, swap the full fat cheeses with a low-fat cheese, or swap milk and butter with some Greek yogurt or light cream cheese.
🍴 Serving and Storage Suggestions
This gouda mac and cheese is a great go-to meal that can be prepared ahead of time! Leftovers can be kept in your fridge for three or four days.
To reheat your dish, add some milk to the dish. Then, either reheat on the stovetop (for about 2-3 minutes) or in your microwave (about 1 minute). You can also make these macaroni bites!
Here are a few other amazing pasta recipes you're bound to love:
Did you make this recipe?! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Gouda Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 12 ounces macaroni, substitute other short pasta
- 4 tablespoon butter
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon mustard powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1½ cups whole milk
- 8 ounces gouda cheese, shredded (smoked or regular)
- 2 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4-6 ounces gouda cheese, topping, substitute cheddar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F and grease a 9” skillet (or 9x13” pan) with some butter or cooking oil spray.
- Add salt to a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Cook macaroni until al dente (according to package directions) and drain.
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent (about 5 minutes).
- Stir in the flour, mustard powder, pepper, and salt. Let the flour cook for 1 minute, stirring often.
- Slowly pour in milk, stirring or whisking continuously, and cook until thickened (a few minutes). Add in the 8oz gouda and 2 oz cheddar and stir until melted.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the drained pasta. Transfer the macaroni to the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining cheese in an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
Notes
- Use of onions: Onion is optional. If you are not using onion, reduce butter to 2 tablespoons.
- Salt pasta water and cook to al dente. Make sure to salt the pasta water heavily to season the pasta - most of it drains out. And cook the pasta al dente to ensure that it's not overcooked and mushy by the time you're done baking.
- Bake or broil to perfection. You can also broil this gouda mac and cheese on high for a few minutes until browned. To add more texture, make your own breadcrumb topping by combining Panko breadcrumbs and melted butter, then sprinkle it over the top of the gouda mac and cheese before baking to get a crunchy golden finish.
- Pick high-quality cheese and grate it fresh. Use gouda cheese with a high fat content for maximum creaminess and flavor. Pre-grated cheese tends to have additives to prevent them from sticking, and will not melt as well as freshly grated cheese. We tested this recipe with both smoked and regular gouda and it’s great both ways.
- Get the right creamy texture. Adding too much milk can make it too runny or watery. Start by adding 1½ cups of milk, add more if needed. Try half-and-half and/or whipping cream along with whole milk to make the cheese sauce extra rich and smooth.
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