# Mac N Cheese

A creamy Mac N Cheese recipe for the holiday season.

- Total time: 50 min
- Cuisine: Italian
- Category: Dinner
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 1 pound Mozzarella cheese
- 1 pound Colby Jack cheese
- 8 ounces Cheddar cheese
- Water
- Salt
- 1 pound Cavatappi pasta
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Smoked paprika
- 3 tablespoons Butter
- 3 tablespoons Flour
- 12 ounces Evaporated milk
- 2 cups Heavy cream
- 1 spoonful Dijon mustard
- Green onions

## Instructions

1. Boil some water and salt it like the ocean.
2. Add 1 pound of cavatappi pasta to the boiling water.
3. Boil the pasta for 8 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes.
4. Shred 1 pound of mozzarella, 1 pound of Colby Jack, and 8 ounces of cheddar cheese.
5. Divide the shredded cheese in half into two separate bowls.
6. Prepare seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
7. On medium heat, melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a pan.
8. Add half of the prepared seasonings to the melted butter and cook for about 30 seconds to bloom the seasonings.
9. Add 3 tablespoons of flour to the seasoned butter and mix until combined, cooking for about 2 minutes to cook out the flour.
10. Add one 12-ounce can of evaporated milk incrementally while whisking to remove lumps.
11. Add 2 cups of heavy cream incrementally while whisking, a process that might take 5-7 minutes.
12. Add the remaining seasonings and a spoonful of Dijon mustard to the sauce.
13. Turn the heat to low or off to prevent the cheese from curdling.
14. Slowly add the first half of the shredded cheese, a handful at a time, whisking until each addition is melted before adding more.
15. Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and fold it in with a spatula.
16. Add half of the pasta and cheese mixture to a baking dish for layering.
17. Sprinkle half of the remaining shredded cheese over the first layer of pasta.
18. Add the last layer of pasta mixture.
19. Top with the remaining shredded cheese.
20. Bake in the oven at 350°F for about 25 to 30 minutes.
21. Broil for a few minutes to get a nice crust on top.
22. Perform a crust test by tapping the top of the mac and cheese.
23. Garnish with green onions, chives, or parsley.
24. Serve and enjoy the creamy, cheesy mac and cheese.

## Equipment

- Pot
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Cheese grater
- Bowls
- Measuring spoons
- Pan
- Spatula
- Whisk
- Measuring cup
- Colander
- Baking dish
- Oven
- Oven mitts
- Wooden spoon

## Tips

- Shred your own cheese as pre-shredded cheese can become grainy and not melt properly due to a film on it.
- When seasoning, start with a teaspoon and taste as you go to adjust to your preference.
- Bloom the seasonings in melted butter for about 30 seconds to enhance their flavor.
- Ensure the flour is fully cooked out when making the roux to prevent grainy mac and cheese.
- Add evaporated milk and heavy cream incrementally while whisking to avoid lumps and soupy cheese sauce.
- Use evaporated milk for creaminess, not condensed milk.
- When adding cheese to the sauce, the heat should be low or off to prevent curdling and separation.
- Mustard and cheddar pair well together and enhance the flavor.
- If the cheese sauce is too thick, add a splash of milk to thin it out.
- After mixing the pasta and cheese sauce, taste it to adjust seasonings if needed.
- Broil the mac and cheese for a few minutes at the end to get a nice crust on top.

## Source

- Original video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8DUYjLm/
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/5733f097-ae42-483e-bce6-fcf6d0428876
- Extracted: 2025-11-04

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