Smoked Gouda mac and cheese

A creamy smoked Gouda cheese sauce is blended with spices and mixed with pasta to make a decadent baked macaroni and cheese dish.

One of my favorite comfort foods is macaroni and cheese. While most versions use American or cheddar as the base, I decided to use smoked Gouda to give mine a nontraditional flavor. Gouda is a mildly sweet cheese, and the smoked version really adds a unique yet delicious twist to this dish.

Smoked Gouda mac and cheese recipe

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 box (1 pound) small pasta such as elbows or shells
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2-1/2 cups low-fat milk
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 cups smoked Gouda cheese, grated
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• Parsley for garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and spray a medium casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a pot filled with water, prepare the pasta as directed on the package. Once cooked, drain and set aside.
2. In a separate pot over medium heat, add the butter and melt. Add the flour to the melted butter, cooking for 2-3 minutes and mixing continuously. Slowly whisk in the milk, garlic powder, nutmeg and season with salt and pepper. Cook the mixture until it has thickened, about 10-12 minutes.
3. Once the mixture has thickened, remove from the heat and add the grated smoked Gouda cheese and cooked pasta mixing well. Pour into the casserole dish and sprinkle the top with breadcrumbs. Bake until the top is golden brown. Remove from oven and garnish with fresh chopped parsley. Serve warm.

More macaroni and cheese

Broccoli chicken macaroni and cheese
Philly cheesesteak macaroni and cheese
Roasted poblano macaroni and cheese