If you were looking for a new twist on mac and cheese you’ll love this gouda mac and cheese. The gouda cheese and smoked paprika topping help give this an elevated flavor so this definitely isn’t just a kid’s menu mac and cheese!
INGREDIENTS AND KITCHEN SUPPLIES
Here’s what you need to get a gouda mac and cheese on the dinner table this week.
Ingredients
- Macaroni noodles. For me, a mac and cheese uses elbow noodles only. You won’t find any other noodles making it’s way into my mac and cheese recipes!
- Gouda. You’ll need to buy blocks of gouda cheese to grate.
- Light cream. You’ll find this in the same spot you find half & half and heavy cream in the grocery store.
- Butter.
- Flour.
- Seasonings: salt, garlic powder, dry mustard, smoked paprika.
Supplies
- 9 x 13 baking dish.
- Large frying pan + pot.
- Box grater to shred the gouda.
Baked mac and cheese dishes are easy to make! The longest part of this recipe is grating the gouda cheese…you’ll get a little bit of an arm workout in there too lol. Once you’ve got everything ready the cheese sauce whips up in about 10 minutes.
They key to getting a perfectly cheesy baked mac and cheese is making sure not to bake it for too long. If you bake it too long the moisture from the sauce can evaporate leaving you with a not so saucy dish. I’ve found the sweet spot is baking for 15 minutes, then placing it under the broiler for a bit to get the top nice and browned. Just make sure to really watch it once it’s under the broiler so it doesn’t burn.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH MAC AND CHEESE
Let’s get your dinner ready…here are some ideas of what to serve with this recipe.
- Chicken: BBQ chicken thighs, drumsticks, or keep it super simple and grab a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store.
- Grilling: Throw some burgers, dogs, steak, or ham steak on the grill.
- Soup: Tomato soup would go well with this.
- Sides: Bagged garden salad, steamed broccoli, green beans, or a corn casserole.
- Cold: Make some deli sandwiches or wraps.
Ready for more mac and cheese? I’ve got plenty of tasty recipes for you to try.
Cajun mac and cheese
White Cheddar mac and cheese
Buffalo chicken mac and cheese
Stove top mac and cheese
Beer cheese mac and cheese
Baked Gouda Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese made with lots of gouda cheese, sprinkled with smoked paprika, then baked until perfection!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings
- Category: Side Dishes
- Method: Saute
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
3 cups of dry macaroni noodles
5 cups of shredded gouda cheese
3 cups light cream
2 tablespoons salted butter
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Topping
More shredded gouda to cover the top
Smoked paprika
Instructions
1. Cook and drain the noodles, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray.
2. While the noodles are cooking, in a large pan over medium-low heat melt the butter and whisk in the flour and dry mustard. Cook for 1 minute.
3. Add the light cream and heat over medium heat for 5 minutes to thicken, stirring occasionally.
4. Whisk in the 5 cups of gouda a little at a time, season with the salt and garlic powder. Stir until the cheese is completely melted and you have a smooth sauce.
5. Add the cooked noodles to the casserole dish then pour the cheese sauce over top. Stir so all the noodles are generously covered. Sprinkle the top with more gouda and as much smoked paprika as you’d like.
6. Bake for 15 minutes, then broil until the top is browned and bubbling.
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