# Mac and Cheese

A delicious mac and cheese recipe perfect for the holiday season, emphasizing a creamy texture without being soupy.

- Total time: 35 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
- 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.
5. Shred 1 pound of Colby Jack cheese.
6. Shred 8 ounces of cheddar cheese.
7. Divide the shredded cheese in half.
8. Prepare the seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Start with a teaspoon of each and adjust to taste.
9. Start the roux by melting 3 tablespoons of butter in a pot over medium heat.
10. Add half of the prepared seasonings to the melted butter and bloom for about 30 seconds.
11. Add 3 tablespoons of flour to the seasoned butter and mix until combined. Cook for about 2 minutes to cook out the flour.
12. Gradually add one 12-ounce can of evaporated milk to the roux while whisking to remove lumps.
13. Gradually add 2 cups of heavy cream to the mixture while whisking. This process may take 5-7 minutes.
14. Add the remaining seasonings and a spoonful of Dijon mustard to the sauce.
15. Turn the heat to low or off before adding the cheese to prevent curdling.
16. Slowly add half of the shredded cheese, a handful at a time, whisking until it's all melted before adding more.
17. If the cheese sauce is too thick, add a splash of milk to thin it out.
18. Add the drained pasta to the cheese sauce and fold it in with a spatula until evenly coated.
19. Take a piece of noodle and taste the seasoning, adding more if desired.
20. Add half of the mac and cheese to a baking dish.
21. Layer half of the remaining shredded cheese on top of the pasta in the baking dish.
22. Add the remaining mac and cheese as the last layer.
23. Top with the remaining shredded cheese.
24. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes, then broil for a few minutes to get a nice crust.
25. Perform a crust test by tapping the top of the mac and cheese.
26. Garnish with green onions, chives, or parsley.
27. Serve and enjoy the cheesy mac and cheese.

## Equipment

- Pot
- Grater
- Whisk
- Baking dish
- Spatula
- Oven mitts

## Tips

- Shred your own cheese as pre-shredded cheese has a film that makes it grainy and prevents it from melting properly.
- Cook the flour completely to avoid a grainy mac and cheese.
- Add evaporated milk and heavy cream incrementally while whisking to avoid a soupy mac and cheese.
- Turn off or lower the heat before adding cheese to prevent curdling and separation.
- Dijon mustard enhances the flavor of cheddar cheese.

## Source

- Original video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTr2UvhKD/
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/ba03f940-3b1c-4520-a3fd-28c2c07799a3
- Extracted: 2025-11-26

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