As an Amazon Influencer, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com.
Elevate ordinary mac and cheese with this easy and creamy brie mac and cheese recipe!
We’re using three cheeses to take classic mac and cheese to the next level. Then, we’re topping it off with buttery cracker crumbs and baking it until bubbling.
Whether you’re enjoying this brie mac and cheese as a side dish or an indulgent main course, it’s sure to be a dish that the whole family will love!
Ingredients for this Brie Mac and Cheese Recipe
Here’s what you’ll need to create this creamy baked pasta:
- Elbow macaroni or any other kind of short cut pasta that you like. Pipette and cavatappi pasta are two of my current favorites.
- Brie cheese. This is such a perfect cheese for mac and cheese cause honestly, does anything melt better than brie?
- Parmesan cheese
- Swiss cheese. For a more robust flavor, try Gruyere or Emmentaler.
- Milk
- Garlic
- All purpose flour
- Butter
- Dry mustard, also known as ground mustard.
- Salt
- Pepper
- Ritz crackers
How to Make Brie Mac and Cheese
Cook the Pasta
Boil and drain the pasta according to the package directions for al dente.
Make a Roux
While the pasta cooks, make a roux.
A roux is essentially a mix of flour and fat (in this case, butter) used to thicken sauces.
We’ll whisk our flour and melted butter together with some garlic, salt, pepper and dry mustard. When the mixture starts to bubble, it means that the flour is cooked it’s time to add the remaining ingredients.
Create the Creamy Sauce
Pour in the milk and bring the mixture to a boil while you whisk it with the roux.
Then, lower the heat and stir in the cheeses until they melt.
Make the Bread Crumbs
Crush the Ritz crackers into crumbs.
The best way to do this is to put the crackers into a large Ziploc bag and roll over the bag with a rolling pin. You could also smash the crackers in the bag using the back of a measuring cup.
Then, mix the crushed crackers with a little bit of melted butter.
Bake the Mac and Cheese
Combine the cooked pasta and the creamy brie cheese sauce in a large bowl. Then, transfer the pasta to a large baking dish or smaller crocks.
Sprinkle the bread crumbs over top, and bake until golden brown.
Rind or No Rind?
While the rind of brie cheese is totally edible, it doesn’t melt. When I’m making baked brie, I leave the rind on because it helps to contain the melted cheese.
But for the purposes of this brie mac and cheese recipe, you’ll want to remove the rind. Use a sharp knife or vegetable peeler to do this.
Variations on this Brie Mac and Cheese Recipe
1. Make it Herby. Brie cheese is naturally complemented by fresh herbs. Try throwing fresh rosemary or fresh thyme into the mix to add a sophisticated, earthy dimension.
2. Change up the Bread Crumbs. While I consider a Ritz cracker topping to be the best part of baked pasta dishes, you might also want to try using panko breadcrumbs, or make your own bread crumbs using stale sourdough bread.
3. Change up the Cheese. Experiment with different cheeses like aged Gouda or sharp cheddar cheese to see how they complement the flavor of the brie.
My Cheese Sauce is Grainy! Why?
Cheese sauce becomes grainy because you’re cooking it over too high heat.
The key to a creamy cheese sauce is to lower the heat to barely a simmer after the milk boils. You could even turn the heat off completely. Then, stir in the cheeses, one handful at a time, whisking constantly.
This should result in a smooth cheese sauce with a creamy texture.
How to Store Leftover Brie Mac and Cheese
Wait until the mac and cheese has cooled to room temperature before storing it. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of milk to help reconstitute the sauce.
When you make this brie mac and cheese recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy!
For more mac and cheese recipes, try these:
- Steakhouse Mac and Cheese (Outback Copycat)
- Gluten Free Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
- Chicken and Broccoli Mac and Cheese
The Best Brie Mac and Cheese Recipe (Easy and Creamy)
Ingredients
- 1 lb. short cut pasta
- 12 oz. brie cheese
- 2 cup Swiss cheese grated
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 4 cups milk
- 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 2 Tbsp. all purpose flour
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
Bread Crumb Topping
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers crushed
- 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a large pot of salted water, cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add garlic and cook until sizzling. Stir in the flour, salt, pepper and dry mustard. Cook until the mixture starts to bubble.
- Pour in the milk. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce heat. Break the brie into smaller pieces. Add the brie, Parmesan and Swiss cheeses. Stir until smooth.
- Combine the pasta and cheese sauce in a large bowl. Transfer to a 9×13 baking dish or 6 individual crocks.
- In a small bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over top of the mac and cheese. Bake 15-20 minutes, until top is golden brown and bubbling.
Leave a Reply