# Mac n Cheese

A delicious mac n cheese recipe perfect for the holiday season.

- Total time: 30 min
- Cuisine: Italian
- Category: Dinner
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 1 pound Mozzarella cheese
- 1 pound Colby Jack cheese
- 8 ounces Sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 1 tablespoon Garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Smoked paprika
- 3 tablespoons Butter
- 3 tablespoons All-purpose flour
- 12 ounces Evaporated milk
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 cups Heavy cream
- 1 pound Cavatappi pasta

## Instructions

1. Boil some water and add salt, as salty as the ocean.
2. Add 1 pound of cavatappi pasta to the boiling water.
3. Boil the pasta for 8 minutes if making mac and cheese right away, or 7 minutes if making it the night before.
4. Shred 1 pound of mozzarella, 1 pound of Colby Jack, and 8 ounces of sharp cheddar cheese.
5. Divide the shredded cheese into two bowls; one for the cheese sauce and one for layering the mac and cheese.
6. Prepare the seasoning mix by adding salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika to a bowl.
7. In a pan on medium heat, melt 3 tablespoons of butter.
8. Add half of the seasoning mix to the melted butter and cook for about 30 seconds to bloom the seasonings.
9. Add 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour to the pan and cook for two to three minutes to make a roux.
10. Switch to a whisk and slowly add 12 ounces of evaporated milk, a quarter of the can at a time, whisking to remove any flour lumps.
11. Add 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard and mix it in.
12. Slowly add 2 cups of heavy cream, a little at a time, while continuously whisking on medium heat.
13. Cook for about 2 minutes after adding the last bit of heavy cream.
14. Reduce the heat to low and add half of the shredded cheese, slowly mixing until fully melted before adding more.
15. Add the remaining seasoning mix to the cheese sauce.
16. Once all the cheese is melted, add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and fold it in.
17. Transfer half of the mac and cheese to a baking dish.
18. Layer with half of the remaining shredded cheese.
19. Add the rest of the mac and cheese.
20. Top with the remaining shredded cheese.
21. Bake in the oven at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes, then broil for 2 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden.

## Equipment

- Pot
- Wooden spoon
- Grater
- Bowl
- Whisk
- Pan
- Baking dish
- Oven mitts

## Tips

- Always shred your own cheese to avoid a grainy mac and cheese. Pre-shredded cheese from the store has a film like cornstarch or potato starch that makes it grainy.
- Cook the roux for two to three minutes to avoid a grainy mac and cheese.
- When adding cheese to the sauce, reduce the heat to low and add it slowly while mixing to prevent the cheese from curdling.

## Source

- Original video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8DcA6Dc/
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/33507cc2-f368-4a90-afa6-28aed89353ba
- Extracted: 2025-11-16

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt