You know those memes that float around during the holiday time about how not everyone can be trusted to bring the mac and cheese to the holiday dinner? And honestly, with a side dish *that* important, it’s true… it’s an honor to be entrusted with the holiday macaroni. The baked Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese recipe I’m sharing today is the reason I am assigned the mac and cheese responsibility every Thanksgiving. It’s been adapted from a recipe I found in a magazine over 15 years ago, but have spent every year since updating and fine-tuning it to the special mac and cheese with Gouda recipe it is today. This macaroni and cheese with Gouda is great as a larger-batch side dish for a holiday dinner (like Easter and Thanksgiving), but also works as a dinner entree. If you’re looking for a recipe for Gouda cheese mac and cheese, look no further! Get the mac and cheese with smoked Gouda recipe at the end of this post, and if you love this, you’ll also love my Bacon Pesto Mac and Cheese Bake recipe, so try that one next time!
More mac and cheese recipes like this macaroni and cheese with Gouda
If you want more inspiration like this baked Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese, check out these other easy and delicious macaroni and cheese recipes!
What you need to make this recipe for Gouda cheese mac and cheese
To make this Gouda cheese mac and cheese recipe, you’ll need to gather these ingredients:
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups low-fat or 2% milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or more to taste
- 8 ounces smoked Gouda cheese, shredded (Ingredient Substitution Tip: You can use regular, unsmoked Gouda in this recipe as well)
- 1/2 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs (Ingredient Substitution Tip: You can also use panko breadcrumbs for some additional texture, but I usually use regular breadcrumbs)
- Garlic salt, to taste
How to make this mac and cheese with smoked Gouda
This baked Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese looks and tastes impressive, but is actually pretty easy to make. First, preheat the oven to 350° and spray a 9″x13″ baking dish with nonstick spray. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the macaroni noodles, and cook until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
To make the cheesy sauce for this recipe for Gouda cheese mac and cheese, melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the sliced green onions and finely-chopped garlic to the pan with the butter and cook for 1 minute. Add the flour and cook for 1 more minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add the milk, salt, and pepper, stirring constantly with a whisk until blended. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cook for 2 minutes, or until thickened. Gradually add the Gouda and Parmesan cheeses, stirring until the cheeses are melted and blended into the mac and cheese with smoked Gouda sauce.
Mix the reserved cooked macaroni noodles into the cheese sauce, then pour the noodle and sauce mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle breadcrumbs evenly over the top of the mac and cheese with Gouda, then season with garlic salt (to taste) and sprinkle with additional grated Parmesan. Cook the baked Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese in the pre-heated oven for 15 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the topping is lightly browned.
This Gouda macaroni and cheese has a complex texture between the al dente noodles, the creamy sauce, and the crisp topping. The smoked Gouda cheese also gives it a subtle smokiness that makes this mac and cheese recipe with Gouda unforgettable!
This mac and cheese with smoked Gouda works equally well as a holiday side dish for your feasts, or as a dinner entree.
Here’s the Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese recipe! I hope this recipe for Gouda cheese mac and cheese becomes an important part of your holiday traditions like it has been for ours!
Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese
You know those memes about how not everyone can be trusted to bring the mac and cheese to the holiday dinner? Honestly, with a side dish *that* important, it's true... it's an honor to be entrusted with the macaroni. This baked Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese recipe is the reason I am assigned the mac and cheese responsibility every Thanksgiving. This macaroni and cheese with Gouda is great as a larger-batch side dish for a holiday dinner (like Easter and Thanksgiving), but also works as a dinner entree. If you're looking for a recipe for Gouda cheese mac and cheese, look no further!
Ingredients
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups low-fat or 2% milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or more, to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or more, to taste)
- 8 ounces smoked Gouda cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- Garlic salt, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 9"x13" baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add green onions and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk, salt, and pepper, stirring constantly with a whisk until blended. Bring to a boil, then cook for 2 minutes, or until thickened. Gradually add the Gouda and Parmesan cheeses, stirring until melted.
- Mix the macaroni into the cheese sauce, then pour the noodle and sauce mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle breadcrumbs evenly over the top, then season with garlic salt and sprinkle with additional grated Parmesan.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the topping is lightly browned.
Helen says
OMG, was a BIG change from cheddar cheese mac and cheese recipes, family LOVED IT.
Ramona Cruz-Peters says
I’m so happy to hear your family loved it! It’s a family favorite for us!