This smoked gouda mac and cheese has a rich and silky texture with a crunchy breadcrumb topping. This creamy macaroni is an irrestisble side dish with great flavor!
If you love mac & cheese, try these other favorites like crispy fried mac and cheese, one pot chive and bacon mac and cheese or this easy slow cooker macaroni and cheese.
Table of Contents
Mac and Cheese with Smoked Gouda
Homemade macaroni is a staple in our household—with four children, it almost has to be. I admit, I have had my share of times where I have made the famous blue boxed version. Once I realized, though, how easy it was to make a rich smoked gouda mac and cheese from scratch, I was sold!
This dish comes together in ten minutes or less, then all you have to do is let the oven take care of the rest. It reminds me of my baked macaroni and cheese, but with a smoky twist! Other family favorites with macaroni noodles that we love include Panera mac and cheese and easy goulash.
Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Gouda cheese: Freshly grated smoked gouda will give you the best flavor and texture. It gets mixed into the sauce, however I also love adding a little more gouda on top before going into the oven.
- Noodles: Dry elbow macaroni are the traditional noodles used to make this gouda mac and cheese recipe. They are small, tender and will get evenly coated in the cheese sauce.
- Roux: As with any traditional roux or bechamel sauce, you’ll need butter, flour and milk. This helps thicken the sauce and makes it nice and creamy.
- Spices: Dry mustard, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper help boost the flavors in this gouda mac n cheese even more.
- Breadcrumbs: A crispy breadcrumb topping is the finishing touch for this mac and cheese with gouda. It adds the perfect crunch and buttery flavor.
Substitutes for Gouda
If you find that you don’t enjoy smoked gouda cheese or can’t find it, there are a few substitutions. This recipe relies heavily on that smoky, creamy gouda flavor, so your best option is to find something that closely mimics it.
Because gouda is a semi-hard cheese, it melts easier and at a different pace than a typical hard block of cheese. Some options to try instead are:
- Smoked mozzarella
- Havarti
- Muenster
- Monterey Jack
- Sharp cheddar cheese
How to Make Smoked Gouda Mac n Cheese
Ready to get started? You’ll find the full, printable version of the recipe below, but here are the basic steps you’ll take:
- Cook the macaroni. You can pick the brand of your choice and follow the package instructions to boil and cook.
- Create your sauce (photos 1 & 2). It has a rich sauce with a base of butter, flour, and spices whisked with milk.
- Stir in the cheese (photo 3). Take the pan off the heat and let the cheese melt into the sauce while you stir.
- Combine the cheese sauce and macaroni (photo 4). Now put dish together by combing the cheese sauce with the cooked pasta. Stir it up then pour into a 2-quart casserole dish.
- Add the breadcrumbs. Sprinkle with a mixture of breadcrumbs and butter, then spread evenly over the top.
- Bake, serve, and enjoy!
5 star review
“It was delicious! My husband said it was the best Mac and cheese he ever had!!”
– Vanessa
Expert Tips
Here are some helpful tips and tricks when making this recipe:
- Drain your pasta. As it cooks, pasta releases starch into the water. You don’t want your mac n cheese to be starchy and tough, so make sure to rinse well after the macaroni is cooked.
- Whisk milk in slowly. As you are creating the cheesy gouda sauce, you need to add the milk in a little bit at a time and whisk continually. This will help prevent the milk from becoming scalded or overly frothy.
- Help your sauce thicken. Once the sauce base is put together, you’ll want to cook it 3-5 minutes to let the sauce thicken before adding your cheese.
- Turn off the heat. To help the sauce have that perfect consistency, you need to remove the sauce from heat before adding your cheese. Stir well as the cheese is melting into the milk mixture.
- Make homemade breadcrumbs. If you have some stale or dry bread, cut it into cubes than bake it in the oven at 300 degrees for 15 minutes. Then, use a food processor to pulse it into crumbs. Alternately, try a cornflake topping like I do in funeral potatoes recipe.
Recipe FAQs
I am a HUGE gouda fan. Give me a cheese tray with a dozen options and the gouda is the one I’ll be back for again and again. One of the reasons this gouda mac and cheese is so out-of-this-world fantastic is that rich, smokey gouda flavor.
On it’s own gouda has an incredibly creamy, slightly salty flavor. Typical gouda is quite sharp, but the smoked version mellows the sharpness while adding a rich smoky flavor. It’s perfect for mac & cheese!
Cheddar is a bit more hard and sharp than gouda, with a stronger flavor. Gouda is smokey and creamy, with a slightly salty taste.
Both can be used when making macaroni and cheese, so it really comes down to preference. I prefer this delicious mac and cheese with gouda (over cheddar) all day long!
The fat content and moisture in gouda makes it great for melting, especially in this mac and cheese recipe. It gets so creamy and delicious when melted!
If you can’t find gouda or would like to experiment with a similar tasting cheese, try using smoked mozzarella, Havarti, muenster, Monterey jack or sharp cheddar cheese.
More side dishes with cheese include easy cheesy potatoes, cheesy mashed potatoes and cheesy hashbrown casserole recipe!
More Cheesy Side Dishes
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Gouda Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups dry elbow macaroni
- ½ cup butter (1 stick)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt , more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon dry mustard
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- pepper to taste
- 2 cups milk
- 8 ounces smoked gouda , grated (plus additional cheese for topping if desired)
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook the macaroni according to package directions and drain. While the noodles are cooking, combine the flour, salt, mustard, onion, paprika and pepper in a small bowl.
- While macaroni is cooking, melt the stick of butter in a separate saucepan over medium-heat. Add to the flour mixture and stir together for about 1 minute.
- Add the milk a little bit at a time, whisking constantly. Once all of the milk is added, continue to stir and cook for another 3-5 minutes, until the sauce thickens. Add the cheese, then turn off the heat and stir to combine.
- Add the sauce to the drained macaroni (or the macaroni to the sauce, whichever is in the bigger pot.) Stir to combine, then pour it into a greased 2-quart casserole dish. Top with additional shredded gouda if you want.
- In a small bowl, melt 3 Tablespoons of butter in the microwave. Add the breadcrumbs and stir until they are moist. Spread the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top of the macaroni.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs start to brown. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Can mix the extra shredded gouda and breadcrumbs into the macaroni mixture if preferred. Then also top with a little extra cheese/breadcrumbs.
- To make homemade breadcrumbs: If you have some stale or dry bread, cut it into cubes than bake it in the oven at 300 degrees for 15 minutes. Then, use a food processor to pulse it into crumbs.
- Smoked mozzarella
- Havarti
- Muenster
- Monterey Jack
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe contributed by Karen from The Food Charlatan for I Heart Naptime.
Categorized as: American, Nut-Free, Side Dishes, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
This mac n cheese is always a hit wherever I bring it! Simple and delicious recipe!
I’m so happy to hear that, Lacey!
This is our new favorite Mac and cheese ! Turned out perfect and goes A-Mazzini with BBQ!
So happy to hear you enjoyed it, Michelle!
We loved this mac and cheese. The gouda adds so much flavor.
Oh wow, what a great recipe. We used gouda chese with a little leftover white cheddar and it was fantastic!
This is my favorite “go to”… One of my favorite side dishes… I’ll never eat regular mac n cheese again…😃
I’m so glad you loved it! :)
Made with some smoked gouda from an Amish market that I needed to use up and it was perfect! I used a little more crumbs than the recipe states, and added a little less than 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne for some complex heat in the background. My husband has thirds on this dish!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! :)
Ok, funny story, I was surprising my wife with this because she loves smoked gouda, so as I was looking for the 1/2 cup of flour, I couldn’t find it, I messaged my wife asking where some would be and she said in a zip lock bag in the pantry, well I found a bag with what looked to be flour, and measured out 1/2 cup and moved on with the recipe. When my wife got home, she tried it and just would not stop ranting and raving about how delicious it was, so after watching her go back for a 2nd big bowl (because she never eats much anyway) I was like hmmm, I should try it, and I must say so myself, it was delicious!! So I was making it again for the family, and my wife was helping this time, when I went to grab the bag of flour that I used the last time, my wife said is that what you used for flour the first time? And I was like yeah, why? She said because that’s INSTANT PANCAKE MIX! 😂 Anyway, if you make this, please try it using the Aunt Jemima’s instant pancake mix instead of regular flour, you will love it!! It’s so good!!
Brian
What a funny story! Thanks for the delicious tip!!
It was delicious! My husband said it was the best Mac and cheese he ever had!!
I’m so glad you both enjoyed it! Thanks for leaving and comment and review Vanessa. :)
Hi can you make this the night before and bake it the next day? Or would that ruin it?
It is best if made the day of but it can be made the night before then baked the next day. Store in the refrigerator overnight and when ready to bake add the crumble topping.
I need this mac n cheese in my life asap. All that cheese YUM
SERIOUSLY THE BEST MAC- LOVED IT!
I know what I will be making for dinner tonight! This Mac and cheese looks to die for! Delicious!
This was a nice change from our traditional mac and cheese. The panko crumbs are so yummy!
Such a great idea to use gouda for mac and cheese! Such a delicious twist!
AMAZING! Love how creamy and flavorful this mac and cheese is. Plus the bread crumbs on top are perfect!
Absolutely incredible!
This was delicious. The only thing I’ll add will be another 1/4 cup more milk, it wasn’t dry per say, just I want it to be a creamier consistency.
Yum!! I have recently fallen in love with gouda. I HAVE to try this!
This was delicious! The perfect winter comfort food!