Smoky Four Cheese Macaroni Bake recipe

Name: Smoky Four Cheese Macaroni Bake
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 1 h 35 min
Ingredients: ¼ cup butter; 1 ½ cups milk; ¼ cup all-purpose flour; ½ cup minced onion; ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese; salt and pepper to taste; ½ cup half-and-half cream; 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese; ½ cup bread crumbs; 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese; 1 (12 ounce) package macaroni; 1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic; 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, cubed; ½ teaspoon dry mustard powder; ½ teaspoon liquid smoke flavoring (Optional); ⅓ cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

Step 3

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and cook for 3 minutes until it begins to soften. Add the garlic, and continue cooking until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 2 minutes more. Slowly stir in the flour, and cook, stirring constantly for 5 minutes.

Step 4

Stir in the half-and-half and milk, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in mustard powder and liquid smoke; simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 1 cup of Parmesan cheese, along with the cream cheese, Swiss, Monterey Jack, and Cheddar cheeses; stir until melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then stir in the drained macaroni noodles. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs over the macaroni