The Best Cheeses to Use for Macaroni and Cheese
I was chatting with one of my cousins the other day. I love her to death, she’s the cousin that I get together with and throw “fun shade” with.
So anyway, as we’re catching up and of course, laughing, but then she suggests that I make a lobster macaroni and cheese for our Thanksgiving family get together this year.
Now you know… macaroni and cheese – this is an important part of a Thanksgiving meal. To nail the perfect macaroni and cheese, you’ve got to come correct.
A good macaroni and cheese, whether it’s macaroni and cheese baked or made on the stove, a great needs to have two essential elements. Those would be a smooth, gooey texture and lots of flavor!
Nobody like a bland, dry mac and cheese. If that were the case, I might as well eat my mac and cheese straight out the box. But ummm yeah, this blissfully single girl loves her macaroni and cheese homemade, so that will never happen!
Before I go scouring through Pinterest for macaroni and cheese recipes, I take pause. Wait! I need the best kinds of cheeses to “body” my dish. Which leads me to my next question, exactly what are the best cheeses for a delicious macaroni and cheese dish?
Tips for Choosing Cheese
The best types of cheeses to select for your macaroni and cheese must have a robust, delicious flavor. Your cheese also has to melt smoothly to coat the pasta well.
Here are some tips in selecting cheese:
1. Select a wide range of melting cheeses.
2. Use a lot of cheese for a creamier mac and cheese.
3. Balance strong flavors with light ones – i.e Gouda & Cheddar.
4. Select a combination of flavor cheeses and melting cheeses.
Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese
White Sharp Cheddar
White sharp cheddar cheese makes for a great base cheese. Not only is this cheese full of flavor, but its slow melting point makes for a smooth sauce. WARNING: Use absolutely NO pre-shredded cheese! The added preservatives in pre-shredded cheese keeps it from melting properly. Buy a block of cheese and shred it yourself. Check out Cuisinearts Boxed Grater.
Smoked Gouda
If you want to give your macaroni and cheese a more upscale taste, go for the smoked Gouda. With its subtle, smoky taste, Gouda has meltability and gives your mac and cheese a savory, high end taste without the flavor being over the top.
Brie
Brie is a soft cheese made from cow’s milk that melts to form an incredibly creamy sauce. This is another cheese that produces an elevated, fancy tasting mac and cheese. If using Brie, remember to remove the rind.
Fontina
Fontina is semi soft cheese that lends an earthy, buttery flavor that mixes well with other cheeses.
Cream Cheese
Cream cheese is an excellent addition to a macaroni and cheese dish. While not made to be a stand alone cheese, adding cream cheese to other cheeses, makes for a rich and decadent cheese sauce. Due to cream cheeses mandated 33% fat ratio, a cheese sauce made with it will seriously coat your pasta. If possible, get fresh cream cheese from your local farmer’s market or specialty cheese store.
Gruyère
Gruyere is a good melting cheese and has a nutty flavor that rounds out the cheddar flavor in your macaroni and cheese. Sharp white cheddar mixes particularly well with Gruyere.
Havarti
Havarti is a semi-soft cheese with a flavor that ranges from mild to strong. This cheese is usually found with herbs and spices blended in. This cheese has a superior meltability that makes it a great addition to homemade macaroni and cheese.
Macaroni and Cheese Blends
Understanding what cheeses to select for a creamy mac and cheese can be overwhelming. Yet and however, I’m going to give you a cheat sheet.
Read on for cheese blends that work well together to give you a smooth and delicious macaroni and cheese:
- Gruyère, Fontina, White Cheddar, Smoked Gouda
- Sharp Cheddar, Goat Cheese, Havarti
- Sharp Cheddar, Gruyère
- White Cheddar, Cream Cheese
- Cheddar, Gruyère, Gouda
- Sharp White Cheddar Cheese, Gruyere cheese, Monterey Jack Cheese
- Pepper Jack, White Cheddar, Havarti
- Sharp Yellow Cheddar, Havarti and American
- Brie, Cheddar, Havarti
What cheeses are you using in your macaroni and cheese recipes? Please drop a note below, I’d love to see what you all are working on!
Happy eating!
Blissfully Single and Yours,
