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How about some cheese today? This creamy brie four cheese mac and cheese with buttery ritz crackers is melt in your mouth GOOD.
And pasta!!
It is kind of perfect after the day I had yesterday, or really the day the site had. Not real happy with my VPS host, Bluehost. We are not even going to talk about it except to say is that I am really sorry the site was down ALL day yesterday. So frustrating and just plain terrible. Ugh. Sorry if it caused you guys any inconvenience.
This mac and cheese is my apology.
WATCH HOW-TO VIDEO HERE:
I’d say it’s fair game. I mean just look at it. So creamy and buttery, and did I mention there is four cheeses and one of the cheeses is Brie?!?! Yes, Brie. In mac and cheese. It’s so good. And I would totally add some blue cheese crumbles if you are into it.
That would be good. I should have done that.
The Brie actually does not add a ton of amazing flavor. The flavor comes mostly from the sharp cheddar, fontina and havarti (my favorite cheese to add to mac and cheese!!), but the Brie does add amazing creaminess. Oh so creamy! I think you are going to freak. It is the best mac and cheese I have ever made. And eaten.
Oh, and did you guys notice?
My casserole dish? It is not glued together anymore. It is actually all in once piece and totally not toxic.
Yay!
Now I can eat all the mac and cheese. Not just the center. Thank God.
The only reason I made mac and cheese was because I am currently loaded with fancy and delicious cheeses. Definitely not a problem at all, I love it!
Here is the thing though, my grocery store pretty much just sucks. It is not very good and has very limited selections. BUT it does have a new killer cheese section. Guys, it is awesome and I love it, but you know, cheese is expensive…..
So I piled up on pretty much all the discounted cheese (AKA the old cheese). I bought ten eight-ounce wheels of Brie for ten dollars. Now that is a good deal. Especially for me since cheese takes forever to go bad up here where I live. It’s the one thing the elevation is good for (that and no bugs – too high for the little suckers, just a few tiny ants up here)!
Cheep (fancy) cheese equals really good mac and cheese.
So does buttery Ritz crackers, best mac-n-cheese topping ever.
Just like any mac and cheese recipe, this one is super easy. Make it ahead and everyone will love it. It is the perfect cozy meal for weeknights or the weekends. I am pretty sure it would be an awesome Thanksgiving side as well.
A little mac and cheese can never hurt.
Oh, and don’t mind my holiday Ritz crackers and Christmas bowls. I am just a tad too excited about them and had to share.
Creamy 4 Cheese Brie and Buttery Ritz Cracker Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1 clove garlic, minced or grated
- 1 1/2 cups crushed Ritz crackers, about 1 sleeve
- 1 pound elbow pasta
- 1/4 cup flour
- 3 cups warm milk, I used 2%
- 1 1/4 cups sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup fontina cheese, shredded (add an extra 1/4 cup...if you want!)
- 1 1/4 cups havarti cheese, shredded
- 4-6 ounces Brie, rind removed and chopped (I surely used 6 ounces)
- 1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil the pasta until al-dente. You want it to have a bit of bite. It will finish cooking in the oven. Drain well.
- While the pasta boils add 3 tablespoons butter to a medium skillet and melt. Add the garlic and sauté 30 seconds then throw in the crushed Ritz crackers and toss to coat.
- Toast the crumbs for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning. Once the crumbs are lightly toasted remove form the heat and set aside.
- In the same pot you boiled the pasta, melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let cook/bubble for 1 minute, stirring once or twice to avoid burning. Gradually whisk in the milk and raise the heat up to medium-high. Bring the mixture to a boil, whisking frequently until the sauce has thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in all of the cheese, mustard powder, cayenne, salt and pepper. Stir until the cheese is fully melted. Stir in the pasta and transfer to the prepared baking dish.
- Evenly sprinkle on the toasted cracker crumbs and place the baking dish on a baking
- sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until the crumbs are golden brown and the sauce is bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and let sit five minutes (yeah, right). Dig in!!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Ok, now let’s just go grab some giant bowls!
It’s like you know exactly what I’m craving and dish it up to me on a daily basis. I need some of this RIGHT NOW.
Also, 10 wheels of brie for $10?!?!? Love me a good deal – totes jealous over here.
Haha! Thank you so much, Katie!! 🙂
Did someone say Brie? Holy cow…this looks awesome! No calories, right? 🙂
Yes, no calories!! LOL! Although, we could save some carb and throw the sauce over spaghetti squash!
Thank you so much, Dara!
What a gorgeous looking dish! My grandmother used to top her’s with Saltines, but Ritz, I bet are even better!! Bring on the brie!
The Ritz are SO good!!
Thank you, Maria!
I’ve never thought to make mac and cheese with brie. I bet it’s ridiculously creamy!
So creamy!
Thank you, Erin!
First of all, I love those bowls. LOVE them. And I’m jealous. Anthro?
Second of all, I need this mac and cheese. I have never used havarti or brie in mac before (I think just parm, cheddar, and fontina), but now I need to. Love these pictures Tieghan!
You have to add havarti to mac and cheese, I think it is awesome! It’s a buttery cheese (at least I think is…yes, I checked it is a buttery cheese. Well it said buttery aroma, but whatever.). Thanks Laura!!
You are a cooking machine! This looks so yummy and cheesy!
Thank you, Liz!
Oh my lanta, this looks incredible! The perfect cozy introduction to brie.
Thank you, Faith!
In a word – YES !!! –
thanks for this recipe, I love me some mac-n-cheese!
Thanks Kathy!! Gotta love a good mac and cheese!
I will support pasta and cheese any day of the week! This looks fabulous, T! And may your site never go down again 😉 xo
Thanks Ashley!!
And yes, let’s hope for that!! Oh and your pasta today? Super cheesy = perfection!
First – I spend like $10,000 on cheese every time I go to the grocery store. It’s seriously a sickness.
Second – omggg Brie in Mac & Cheese!! anddd buttery cracker crumble?! Officially dead.
Third – Can I add pancetta? #gluttony
YES! Add pancetta!! I actually almost did, but I wanted to keep it vegetarian so everyone could enjoy the cheesiness!!
BUT pancetta is a must!!
Oh heeeeccck yes. I am all about the comfort food today (is it snowing there, too?) – I want to curl up with (inside) a big bowl of this.
Yes, it is snowing! Like a winter wonder land. So cheesy, I know! But it just love it! 🙂
Have a cozy day with your girl!
The ritz crackers on this are awesome!! Such a fabulous recipe!
Thanks Katrina!
Beautiful! You could have called this recipe White Christmas Mac & Cheese…with the pretty Christmas bowls, snowy-white Mac & Cheese and snowflake Ritz crackers! You’ve got me in the holiday mood, T! Thanks for sharing, girl. Pinning (of course)!
Haha! I LOVE you name for this mac and cheese! It totally fits this!
Thanks so much, Stacy! 🙂
Brie mac n cheese! This is a must try.
Thank you so much, Norma!
Such gorgeous pics! I can’t even imagine mac n cheese with brie!!! Ive had grilled cheese with brie (put that one in my cookbook) but your idea sounds amazing! Pinned! and all these pour shots…I would give anything for a big strong person to be hoisting my stockpots while I take pics…or anytime! Those things are heavy!
Thank you, Averie!! I am finally getting the hang of shooting in RAW, so that is good. Still have a hard time, but practice, practice, practice!
And yes, it is nice having a people around for the heavy pot shots! I am planning the big move out in a few months and will miss all the hands! LOL!