# Mac and Cheese

A creamy, cheesy mac and cheese recipe perfect for Thanksgiving.

- Servings: 8 servings
- Total time: 30 min
- Cuisine: American
- Category: Dinner
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 1 water
- 1 salt
- 1 pound 1 pound cavatappi pasta
- 1 pound 1 pound mozzarella cheese
- 1 pound 1 pound Colby Jack cheese
- 8 ounces 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 seasoning
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 can evaporated milk
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika

## Instructions

1. Boil salted water and add 1 pound of cavatappi pasta. Boil for 8 minutes if making it right away; 7 if making the night before.
2. Shred cheeses. The cook recommends shredding your own cheese since pre-shredded cheese often contains a film that makes the mac and cheese grainy.
3. Mix half of the shredded cheese with half of the cooked pasta.
4. In a plastic container, mix salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Start with a teaspoon and taste the cheese sauce as you go to determine how much seasoning to add.
5. In a pan over medium heat, melt 3 tablespoons of butter.
6. Add half of the seasoning to the melted butter and cook for 30 seconds to bloom the spices.
7. Add 3 tablespoons of flour and cook for 2 to 3 minutes to make a roux. This is important so the Mac and Cheese doesn't come out grainy.
8. Whisk in a quarter of a can (12 ounces) of evaporated milk to remove any flour clumps.
9. Slowly add the remaining evaporated milk, whisking to combine.
10. Add 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard and mix in. The cook notes that if you don't like Dijon mustard, you can omit it.
11. Slowly add 2 cups of heavy cream, a little at a time, whisking constantly, until smooth.  Add the remaining heavy cream and cook for 2 minutes.
12. Reduce heat to low and add half of the remaining shredded cheese, mixing until melted.
13. Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce, gently folding to coat.
14. Add the rest of the seasoning, stir to combine, and add the remaining shredded cheese, stirring until melted.
15. Pour half of the Mac and Cheese mixture into a baking dish, top with the remaining pasta and cheese, and bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted.
16. Broil for 2 minutes to brown the top.

## Equipment

- pot
- wooden spoon
- cheese grater
- mixing bowls
- plastic container
- whisk
- pan
- spatula
- baking dish
- oven

## Source

- Original video: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSr8tjFjL/
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/8f847832-0714-46a9-b536-eac0f21b3407
- Extracted: 2025-03-26

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