Thanksgiving Mac & Cheese

Thanksgiving Mac & Cheese brings rich, cheesy comfort to your holiday table. It's the cozy, creamy side dish everyone begs for year after year—and it might just outshine the turkey.

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 50

Servings: 8 servings

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Calories: 520

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

Macaroni & Cheese Base

1 lb elbow macaroni or shells for a twist
4 tbsp unsalted butter
4 tbsp all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk or half-and-half for extra creaminess
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Gruyère or mozzarella for extra stretch
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1 pinch nutmeg optional but magical

Topping

0.5 cup panko breadcrumbs
2 tbsp unsalted butter melted, to mix with breadcrumbs

Equipment

Saucepan
9x13-inch Baking Dish
Oven

Method

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter.
Cook macaroni in salted boiling water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in flour and whisk constantly for 1 minute to form a roux.
Slowly add milk while whisking to avoid lumps. Cook until thickened and smooth. Add a pinch of nutmeg if desired.
Remove from heat and stir in cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan until melted. Season with salt and pepper.
Fold in the cooked macaroni until evenly coated. Pour into the prepared dish.
Mix melted butter with breadcrumbs and sprinkle on top.
Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden and bubbling. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

You can prep this dish a day in advance and bake before serving. For a twist, stir in leftover turkey, herbs, or even bacon bits.