Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese - One Pot Pasta

One pot, six ingredients and 20 minutes is all it takes to get smoked Gouda mac and cheese on the dinner table tonight! This hearty one pot pasta is loaded with smoky cheese and sun-dried tomatoes in a creamy, dreamy sauce. Garnish with fresh parsley and you've got an elevated version of mac and cheese that your kids will still love!

You Will Love This

• It's the perfect quick and easy weeknight dinner when you've got a million things going on and a very hungry family! The ingredient list is short and sweet is so is the cook time, which has made this meal a family favorite in our house! It also doesn't require whisking all purpose flour and unsalted butter together to make a roux because the starch from the pasta is going to thicken the sauce right in the pot!
• The flavors are amazing. Smoked Gouda is an amazing cheese (and one of my personal faves) and this pasta dish showcases it perfectly! The sun dried tomatoes do a great job cutting the richness of the pasta, yet pair really well alongside the smoky flavor of the cheese. The fresh parsley at the end adds a little brightness to the whole dish and takes the flavors to the next level.
• If you loved this mac and cheese recipe, be sure to check out my:
  • One Pot Stovetop Mac and Cheese
  • White Cheddar Caprese Mac and Cheese
  • Easy Mac and Cheese Pizza

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Pasta - For this gouda mac and cheese recipe I used cavatappi. It's perfect spirals allow the cheese sauce to cling to every nook and cranny of the noodle. Feel free to use your favorite short cut of pasta for this recipe.
• Veggie Broth - Veggie broth helps thin out the sauce so it doesn’t get too heavy. You could also use chicken broth if you're not worried about keeping this dish vegetarian.
• 2% Milk/Heavy Cream - I use 2% milk most often because that's what we've got on hand most often, but if you've got heavy cream that will take the cheesy sauce to the next level! You could also sub whole milk for the 2% milk.
• Smoked Gouda Cheese - Smoked Gouda has a fantastic, smoky flavor, and is soft enough to melt easily and become nice and creamy. It totally ups the mac and cheese game! You can use regular Gouda as well! If you can't find Gouda, sub with Fontina cheese.
• Sun-Dried Tomatoes - Sun-dried tomatoes add a slight sweet, tangy, earthy flavor that perfectly complements the smoked Gouda. If you’re not a big fan, chop or blitz the sun-dried tomatoes really small so you get the flavor without the large pieces, or omit them completely.

Instructions

Add uncooked pasta, sun dried tomatoes, smoked Gouda, vegetable broth, 2% milk, salt and pepper to a large pan over medium high heat. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Reduce to medium-low heat and simmer the mixture (don't boil!), uncovered, for 10 minutes.

One the pasta is al dente, stir in fresh chopped parsley, season to taste with Kosher salt and black pepper and enjoy!

Types of Pasta

I LOVE to use cavatappi in this Gouda mac and cheese recipe. I like the spiral shape and the way the sauce clings to every nook and cranny. I prefer to use smaller cuts of pasta (as opposed to spaghetti or fettuccine noodles) for my Mac and cheese recipes. Some of my other favorites for this recipe include:

• cavatappi
• elbow macaroni
• shells
• rotini
• fusilli
• penne
• rigatoni

Variations

Use this recipe as a blueprint and make it your own! Some of our favorite variatios include:

• ¼ teaspoon of dry mustard powder, garlic powder, or paprika (mixed right in with everything)
• a sprinkle of toasted Panko breadcrumbs on top

Tips

• If you have picky eaters, use a food processor or sharp knife to mince the sun dried tomatoes into tiny pieces before adding them to the pasta. This will make them blend in more easily with the sauce which will make them less noticeable to the kiddos.
• Taste your noodles throughout the cooking process. Noodles can go from perfectly al dente to mushy and gummy in a quick minute. Be sure to snag a noodle here and there while you're pasta is cooking so you can pull it off the heat as soon as the noodles are cooked through but still have a toothsome bite.
• If your noodles are not cooked al dente yet but the sauce is reducing too much, feel free to add a splash of milk or cream throughout the cooking process. You're looking for a thick, creamy sauce that really coats every nook and cranny of the noodle.
• Keep in mind that the sauce will thicken a bit as it cools so you may need to add a splash of milk or cream even after the pasta has finished cooking just to keep things loose.
• Season. Season. Season. With an ingredient list this short, salt and pepper will need to be used liberally to really elevate the simple flavors of this smoked Gouda mac and cheese.

Storage and Reheating

• Storage: Store leftover Gouda mac and cheese in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
• Reheat: Reheat mac and cheese in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add a splash of water or cream to loosen it up. Cook, stirring frequently, until warmed through. Season with salt and pepper before serving!

FAQ

Serve Pasta With

• Olive Oil & Balsamic Bread Dip
• Beet and Feta Salad
• Herb & Tomato Focaccia Bread
• Crispy Goat Cheese Salad
• Fall Harvest Kale Salad

Easy Pasta Dinner Recipes

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This post was originally published in November of 2018. It was updated in March 2022 to include process shots, step-by-step instructions and tips for making the best smoked Gouda mac and cheese every single time!