My gouda mac and cheese is a favorite with my kids and myself! I always turn to this easy recipe when I’m craving cheesy comfort, and my family goes crazy for it every time.
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My Family Loved Gouda Cheese Mac and Cheese Recipe
My gouda mac and cheese recipe is my all-time favorite way to elevate the typical mac and cheese dinner night. I’ve experimented with pretty much every cheese you can think of, and none of them get that perfect, creamy, velvety texture quite like gouda.
My kids have always loved mac and cheese, especially my son Connor, who is absolutely obsessed. One night, when he requested it, and I realized we had sharp cheddar and gouda in the fridge, so I decided to give it a try.
I couldn’t believe how beautifully the gouda melted into the cheese sauce! The creaminess was perfect for coating every piece of pasta. Even my husband said this mac and cheese was the best I’d ever made!
I had to get approval from my son, who I refer to for all of my mac and cheese recipes. I had to wait a few minutes while he shoveled spoonfuls into his mouth, but his response was, “It’s like regular mac and cheese, but cooler.”
I say that’s a yes in his book, and we make it more often now!
And, if you love a good mac and cheese recipe, try my recipes for instant pot mac and cheese, velveeta mac and cheese, mac and cheese with cream cheese, macaroni and cheese without milk, and air fryer mac and cheese.
Ingredients for Mac and Cheese with Gouda
- Macaroni – I prefer elbow macaroni for my mac and cheese, but cavatappi pasta works great too
- Butter
- Flour
- Milk – I use whole milk, but any kind of milk will work in a pinch, even heavy cream
- Gouda cheese – I love using a younger gouda, but have used aged and smoked gouda and they taste great too
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper
How to Make Gouda Mac and Cheese
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Cook the pasta according to the box one minute under the al dente time, then drain and set it aside.
STEP TWO: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Whisk the flour into the butter until smooth.
STEP THREE: Slowly pour the milk into the flour mixture and whisk again until smooth again. Then season with salt and pepper.
STEP FOUR: Add the cheeses a handful at a time and stir them until melted. Taste the cheese sauce and add more salt or pepper as desired. Cook it until thickened, but don’t cook it too long, or it will start to separate.
STEP FIVE: Add the pasta and stir until well-coated, then serve and enjoy.
Tips for Creamy Gouda Cheese Mac and Cheese
- Cook the pasta to al dente. It keeps cooking when it goes back in the skillet, so I err on the side of under cooking initially to keep it from getting mushy in the cheese sauce.
- Use whole milk for the creamiest sauce. I’ve used skim milk and while it works, the whole milk makes the sauce nice and creamy.
- Freshly grate the cheese for the best texture. I find pre-shredded cheese has added preservatives that don’t melt as smoothly.
- Add the cheese slowly while stirring. I get the smoothest cheese sauce when I whisk constantly.
- Avoid cooking the cheese sauce too long, which can cause it to separate. If it does, I’ve found that adding a splash more milk and whisking quickly will bring it back together.
Variations and Substitutions for Gouda Mac and Cheese
- For a baked mac and gouda cheese, transfer the skillet contents into a baking dish, top with breadcrumbs, and put it in the oven at 350 degrees F. I bake until the breadcrumbs are golden!
- Try smoked gouda cheese mac and cheese for an added level of flavor.
- For a little spice, add a dash of paprika or a sprinkle of chili flakes. My husband also likes to top his with hot sauce for extra heat.
- Mix in steamed broccoli to add some nutritious greens to gouda cheese mac and cheese.
- Experiment with pasta shapes. I tried making mac and gouda cheese with shells, cavatappi, and spirals instead of macaroni and loved how they caught so much sauce!
What to Serve with Macaroni and Gouda Cheese
I love to add a nice veggie side to the meal by whipping up air fryer carrots, air fryer asparagus, or air fryer vegetables.
If I’m craving total comfort, my go-to sides are air fryer garlic bread, air fryer French fries, or air fryer garlic knots. My kids also love it when I make some air fryer hot dogs to cut up alongside it.
Gouda Mac and Cheese FAQs
Mac and Gouda Cheese Storage and Leftovers
My gouda mac and cheese keeps beautifully! I let the gouda mac and cheese cool completely, then store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, I warm the leftovers on the stove over low heat. A splash of whole milk helps the sauce get nice and creamy again.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
- Chicken spaghetti recipe
- Steak marinade
- Mississippi chicken
- Smothered pork chops
- Lemon chicken recipe
- How to make a spiral ham
- London broil in the oven
Easy Gouda Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound macaroni pasta
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 6 ounces gouda cheese shredded
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the box one minute under the al dente time, then drain and set it aside. The pasta will keep cooking when placed back into the skillet.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Whisk the flour into the butter until smooth.
- Slowly pour the milk into the flour mixture and whisk again until smooth again. Then season it with salt and pepper.
- Add the cheeses a handful at a time and stir them until melted. Taste the cheese sauce and add more salt or pepper as desired. Cook it until thickened, but don’t cook it too long, or it will start to separate.
- Add the pasta back into the cheese sauce and stir until well-coated, then serve and enjoy.
Notes
- Cook the pasta to one minute under al dente. It keeps cooking when it goes back in the skillet.
- Use whole milk for the creamiest sauce.
- Freshly grate the cheese for the best texture that’s smooth.
- Add the cheese slowly while stirring.
- Avoid cooking the cheese sauce too long, which can cause it to separate. If it does, adding a splash more milk and whisking quickly will bring it back together.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
