Sharp cheddar, muenster, and asiago makes for an indulgent, three cheese Homemade Breadcrumb Baked Mac and Cheese. Some simple healthy recipe swaps help reduce the fat, maintain the protein and increase the fiber content of this classic recipe.

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Sharp cheddar, muenster, and asiago makes for an indulgent, three cheese mac and cheese. Sprinkle on homemade breadcrumbs and bake to perfection!

Three Cheese Mac and Cheese

This post was first published on May 15, 2021. It was updated on July 27, 2022.

I've been making this homemade three cheese mac and cheese ever since I was a little girl. In my house, it's named after me (Mackenzie) and known as "Mack's Mac and Cheese." I have made this recipe countless times and it is always a crowd pleaser! I love serving this dish alongside a light salad or some air fried green beans.

Are there healthier swaps you can do?

Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food dish. It's the perfect combo of creamy, cheesy pasta goodness.

However, when I make it, there are a few things I like to do to give it a little bit of a nutrition boost. I like to swap out the white pasta and white breadcrumbs for their whole grain counterparts. "Whole" grains have the bran, germ, and endosperm (AKA all the good parts filled with fiber, vitamins, and minerals) whereas white or "refined" grains undergo a process that removes the germ and bran.

Sometimes I also like to use skim milk and reduced-fat cheddar cheese because these items provide the same level of protein while reducing the saturated fat content. If you're looking to stay indulgent, use whole milk and regular cheddar cheese.

Can I make these into bites?

If you're looking for the perfect party appetizer, you can easily turn these into mini mac and cheese bites! Simply divide them among lined mini or regular muffin tins, sprinkle with a little extra cheese and breadcrumbs, and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes. Sometimes, I also like to stir in a bit of riced cauliflower with the cheese sauce to pump up the nutrition of this mac and cheese without changing the flavor.

Mac and cheese bites

How do I make homemade breadcrumbs?

Skip the store bought stuff and make your own breadcrumbs. Simply rip up whole grain bread slices into pieces. Then, toast them for 10 minutes at 350 degrees until slightly golden. Finally, use your hands to crush them up into smaller pieces to sprinkle over the mac and cheese before baking.

Sharp cheddar, muenster, and asiago makes for an indulgent, three cheese Homemade Breadcrumb Baked Mac and Cheese. Some simple healthy recipe swaps help reduce the fat, maintain the protein and increase the fiber content of this classic recipe.

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Ingredients

  • 3 cups whole grain elbow macaroni
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 6 tablespoons flour
  • 3 cups dairy milk of your choice, (skim milk, 2% milk, or whole milk)
  • 4 oz Muenster cheese, shredded
  • 4 ounces Asiago cheese, shredded
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 2 cups whole wheat breadcrumbs or 3 slices whole grain bread, **see note

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish.
  2. In a large pan, cook macaroni to al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  3. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in salt, pepper, and flour until combined.
  4. Slowly pour in milk and bring to a boil. Let simmer for 2 minutes, then reduce to low heat and stir in all cheeses until creamy. Pour cheese sauce over drained pasta and stir gently to combine.
  5. Pour macaroni in the prepared baking dish. Top with breadcrumbs and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

Notes

** I love to make homemade breadcrumbs. Simply rip bread into medium-sized pieces and pop it into the 350 degrees pre-heated oven for 10 minutes while you prepare the pasta and cheese sauce. Then, pull it out of the oven and crush it up into small pieces to sprinkle over the mac and cheese.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 370 Total Fat: 21g Saturated Fat: 13g Cholesterol: 50mg Sodium: 430mg Carbohydrates: 32g Fiber: 5g Sugar: 4g Protein: 16g

This is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. Nutrition may vary depending on ingredients used. For more nutrition information, seek a professional registered dietitian's advice.

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Three cheese mac and cheese with cheddar, muenster, and asiago

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