5 Cheese Holiday Macaroni and Cheese

This ooey gooey 5 Cheese Holiday Macaroni and Cheese is our favorite special occasion macaroni and cheese. It’s extra special due to the fact that this recipe incorporates a special blend of five specialty cheeses to create a fabulous flavor combination. It’s undeniably decadent and has a rich and robust flavor that makes it unforgettable.

Ingredients to Make 5 Cheese Holiday Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

I only prepare macaroni and cheese like this once a year and that’s only during the Christmas season. Why, you ask?  Well for one, it’s loaded with an over-the-top combination of cheese and is a bit pricier to make. Secondly, I think it’s nice to have a tradition of  holiday dishes that my family associates with this special time of the year, when we celebrate the Christmas season. This five cheese combination is our favorite. If you like, you can certainly adapt using any of your favorite combination of flavors to create your own special holiday macaroni and cheese dish. How to make Five Cheese Macaroni and Cheese: (Scroll down for the full printable recipe card.)

• Pasta – One 16 ounce box cavatappi pasta or twisted macaroni.
• Sauce – Butter, all purpose flour, ground mustard, salt, white pepper.
• Milk – Whole milk plus additional, as needed.
• Cheese – 2 cups shredded asiago cheese, 2 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheese, 2 cups shredded fontina cheese. 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese plus 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese for the filling and half for the topping.
• Crumb Topping – Two slices of white bread pulsed in a food processor. finely grated Parmesan cheese and melted butter.

How to Make the Best 5 Cheese Holiday Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

• Heat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Pasta: Cook the cavatappi pasta in boiling salted water per the instructions on the box, until al dente. Drain well.
• Shred the Cheese: Shred the asiago, Italian (or Vermont) sharp cheddar, fontina and mozzarella cheeses, into a medium size mixing bowl. Toss together until they are evenly combined.
• Sauce: In a medium size heavy bottomed saucepan combine melted butter with flour, salt, pepper, mustard and white pepper. Add milk, whisk to combine. Simmer to thicken.
• Add Cheese: To the sauce add shredded cheese mixture and Parmesan cheese. stir until melted.
• Add Pasta: Add drained pasta to the sauce. Stir until the pasta is evenly coated.
• Transfer to the Prepared Dish: Pour 1/2 of the pasta into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the grated cheese mixture. Repeat layers ending with the final 1/3 shredded cheese.
• Buttered Breadcrumbs: Mix fresh bread crumbs with Parmesan cheese and melted butter, sprinkle on top.
• Oven: Bake per the cook time in the recipe until golden and bubbly, then serve.

Tips for Making Holiday Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

• Kitchen Tools You’ll Need: A pasta pot, large heavy bottomed pot, cheese grater, measuring cups and spoons, a deep 13×9-inch baking dish, rubber spatula and whisk.
• Use a Large Pot: If you make the creamy cheese sauce in a large pot, it can double as the mixing bowl once you add the cooked cavatappi pasta. Go larger, not smaller.
• Use Freshly Grated Cheese: I highly recommend shredding the cheese for this dish. While pre shredded cheese is convenient and has its place in the kitchen, it does include anticaking ingredients to keep it from sticking together. This can make the sauce drier and grainy.
• Make-Ahead Tip: You can make and assemble this mac and cheese one day in advance. When making it ahead of time, it’s always a good idea to remove it from the refrigerator and allow 15-20 minutes to warm at room temperature before baking.
• When to Serve: This dish is a Christmas favorite at our house. You can also serve it at Thanksgiving, Easter, Sunday supper’s or any special occasion.

Recipe Variations

• Cheese: The blend of cheese in this dish is one that I wouldn’t change at all. That said, you could adapt using a similar flavor blend of cheeses to suit your taste. You could swap out mozzarella and use monterey jack cheese, colby jack cheese or pepper jack cheese for spice.
• Breadcrumbs: You could use panko bread crumbs in place of fresh breadcrumbs. You’ll need around 3/4-1 cup.
• Cavatappi: Cavatappi pasta has ridges that allow the sauce to really cling to the pasta. If you can’t find it, you could substitute any pasta with ridges such as a mini penne, or ziti or use classic elbow macaroni noodles.
• Spices: You can add a dash of nutmeg or use black pepper in place of white pepper, if that’s what you have on hand. This is one time I do recommend white pepper for the spicy pepper flavor without the color.
• Herbs: You could garnish the top with fresh parsley or chives.
• Milk: You could replace the milk with half and half or replace one cup of milk with heavy cream for an even more decadent flavor.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers: Store baked 5 Cheese Macaroni and Cheese chilled in an airtight container or covered with foil, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating: Reheat in single servings in the microwave or in a preheated 350°F oven just until heated through.
• Freezer: You can freeze leftovers for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat just before serving.

More Holiday Side Dish Recipes to Make

While this dish is super special, there would be a riot at our house if I only made mac and cheese at the holidays. Whether it’s Sunday supper, a family gathering or potluck party, there’s no event that wouldn’t be made more sweet with a dish filled with gooey macaroni and cheese. We enjoy it as a side dish or as an entrée depending on the day and the time allotted for making accompaniments. There’s simply no wrong way to serve it, at our house. More holiday side dish recipes to try:

• These Candied Yams are a holiday staple.
• Corn Pudding Soufflé just like my Mom makes.
• Brown Sugar Bourbon Glazed Ham is a stunner!
• My Green Bean Casserole recipe features a homemade sauce that starts with bacon.
• Crockpot Cornbread Dressing frees up oven space for other dishes at the holidays.
• Creamed Peas are a dish that’s filled with nostalgia.
• Soft and fluffy Honey Yeast Rolls.
• For more ways to enjoy mac and cheese checkout my Parade article featuring 15 Sensational Ways To Make Mac and Cheese. 

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• Saucepan
• Cheese Grater
• Measuring Set
• 13×9-inch Baking Dish