# Mac N Cheese

A creamy and cheesy Mac N Cheese recipe for the holiday season.

- Total time: 40 min
- Cuisine: Italian
- Category: Dinner
- Language: en

## Ingredients

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

## Instructions

1. Boil some water and add salt.
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 the seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
7. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a pan over medium heat.
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 pan and mix until combined, cooking for about 2 minutes to cook out the flour.
10. Add 12 ounces of evaporated milk gradually while whisking to avoid clumps.
11. Add 2 cups of heavy cream in increments while whisking at the same time.
12. Add the remaining half of the seasonings and a spoonful of Dijon mustard.
13. Turn the heat to low or off to prevent the cheese from curdling.
14. Slowly add half of the shredded cheese, a handful at a time, whisking until fully melted before adding more.
15. Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and fold it in using a spatula until all the pasta is coated.
16. Add half of the mac and cheese to a baking dish.
17. Layer with half of the remaining shredded cheese.
18. Add the remaining mac and cheese on top.
19. Top with the last layer of cheese.
20. Bake in the oven at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes, then broil for a few minutes for a nice crust.
21. Garnish with green onions (or chives/parsley).

## Equipment

- Pot
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Box grater
- Bowls
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
- Large pan
- Spatula
- Whisk
- Colander
- Baking dish
- Oven mitts
- Spoon

## Tips

- Shred your own cheese as pre-shredded cheese can become grainy and not melt properly.
- Bloom the seasonings in butter to enhance their flavor.
- Gradually add evaporated milk and heavy cream to prevent the mac and cheese from becoming soupy.
- Use evaporated milk for a creamy texture instead of regular milk.
- Turn off or lower the heat to low before adding cheese to prevent it from curdling.
- Mustard and cheddar pair well together and enhance the flavor.
- If cheese sauce is too thick, add a splash of milk to thin it out.
- Perform a crust test by tapping on the mac and cheese to ensure a nice crust.

## Source

- Original video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMgrDp6X/
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/f5a762bc-4d00-48a3-a289-7f2aaf83fdc4
- 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