# Mac and Cheese

A creamy and cheesy mac and cheese recipe perfect for the holiday season.

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

## Ingredients

- 1 pound Mozzarella
- 1 pound Colby Jack cheese
- 8 ounces Cheddar cheese
- 1 pound Cavatappi pasta
- teaspoon Salt
- teaspoon Pepper
- teaspoon Garlic powder
- teaspoon Smoked paprika
- 3 tablespoons Butter
- 3 tablespoons All-purpose flour
- 1 can (12 ounces) Evaporated milk
- 2 cups Heavy cream
- 1 spoonful Dijon mustard
- Green onions

## Instructions

1. Boil some water in a large pot.
2. Salt the boiling water generously, like the ocean.
3. Add 1 pound of cavatappi pasta to the boiling water.
4. Boil the pasta for 8 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes.
5. Shred 1 pound of mozzarella cheese, 1 pound of Colby Jack cheese, and 8 ounces of cheddar cheese.
6. Divide the shredded cheese in half into two separate bowls.
7. Prepare the seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
8. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a large pot over medium heat.
9. Add half of the prepared seasonings to the melted butter and cook for about 30 seconds to bloom the seasonings.
10. Add 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour to the pot.
11. Mix the flour and seasonings until well combined and cook for about 2 minutes.
12. Slowly add 1 can (12 ounces) of evaporated milk in increments, whisking constantly to avoid clumps.
13. Slowly add 2 cups of heavy cream in increments, whisking constantly.
14. Add the remaining half of the seasonings and a spoonful of Dijon mustard to the sauce.
15. Turn the heat to low or off to prepare for adding the cheese.
16. Slowly add half of the shredded cheese (from the first bowl) a handful at a time, whisking until fully melted before adding more.
17. Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce.
18. Fold the pasta into the cheese sauce until evenly coated.
19. Pour half of the mac and cheese into a baking dish.
20. Sprinkle half of the remaining shredded cheese (from the second bowl) over the first layer of pasta.
21. Add the remaining mac and cheese as the second layer.
22. Sprinkle the last of the shredded cheese on top.
23. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25 to 30 minutes.
24. Broil for a few minutes to get a nice crust on top.
25. Garnish with green onions, chives, or parsley.

## Equipment

- Pot
- Cheese grater
- Small bowls
- Large pot
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Baking dish
- Oven mitts

## Tips

- Always shred your own cheese for a creamy texture, as pre-shredded cheese can be grainy.
- When making the roux, cook the flour all the way out to avoid a grainy mac and cheese.
- Add evaporated milk and heavy cream in increments to prevent the mac and cheese from becoming soupy.
- Turn off or lower the heat when adding cheese to prevent it from curdling and separating.
- Add a splash of milk if the cheese sauce is too thick.
- Taste the mac and cheese at the end to adjust seasonings.

## Source

- Original video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UY41US/
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/74ce0328-50ff-4f53-9fee-61bcd042eac4
- Extracted: 2025-11-22

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