# Creamy Mac and Cheese

This is a rich, velvety, and creamy mac and cheese recipe with different textures, perfect for Thanksgiving.

- Total time: 10 min
- Cuisine: American
- Category: Baked Goods
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 0.5 lb cavatappi pasta
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 0.5 tbsp sour cream
- 1 tbsp flour
- 0.5 block sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 0.5 block gouda cheese, shredded
- 0.5 block colby & monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 0.5 cup toasted Italian bread crumbs
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 0.25 tsp paprika
- 0.5 tsp pepper
- 0.5 tsp parsley

## Instructions

1. Salt the water slightly because it's half water and half chicken broth.
2. Once the water is boiling, add the cavatappi noodles.
3. Shred fresh cheese (sharp cheddar, gouda, and Colby Jack) using a cheese grater.
4. Once the noodles are cooked, drain them.
5. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a deep pan for the roux.
6. Add 1 tablespoon of flour to the melted butter and cook until it's a bit brown.
7. Add 1 cup of heavy cream and seasonings (1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon pepper) to the roux.
8. Toast 1/2 cup of bread crumbs in a separate pan with some butter for topping.
9. Gradually stir in half of the shredded cheese into the cheese sauce.
10. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and 1/2 tablespoon of sour cream to the cooked noodles.
11. Pour the cheese sauce over the noodles and mix well.
12. Add the mac and cheese into a greased baking pan.
13. Cover the mac and cheese with the remaining shredded cheese.
14. Top with toasted bread crumbs, 1/2 teaspoon of parsley, and a dash of paprika.
15. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes, just to melt the cheese.

## Equipment

- pot
- cheese grater
- cutting board
- deep pan
- wooden spoon
- frying pan
- baking pan
- oven

## Tips

- Use cavatappi noodles for a fancy mac and cheese.
- Shred fresh cheese instead of using pre-shredded cheese.
- Make a roux to ensure the mac and cheese is creamy and not dry.
- Toast bread crumbs for added texture.
- Double the ingredients if making a whole pan.

## Source

- Original video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UDdoqC/
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/9be11b91-ad11-4cd0-8eee-4ab2f4e628f0
- Extracted: 2025-11-27

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