# Mac and Cheese

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

- Total time: 35 min
- Cuisine: American
- Category: Dinner
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 1 pound Mozzarella
- 1 pound Colby Jack
- 8 ounces Sharp Cheddar
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Paprika
- 3 tablespoons Butter
- 3 tablespoons Flour
- 12 ounces Evaporated Milk
- 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- 2 cups Heavy Cream
- 1 pound Cavatappi Pasta

## Instructions

1. Start by boiling some water, salting it generously like the ocean.
2. Add 1 pound of cavatappi pasta to the boiling water.
3. Boil the pasta for 8 minutes if making the mac and cheese right away, or 7 minutes if making it the night before.
4. Shred 1 pound of mozzarella, 1 pound of Colby Jack, and 8 ounces of sharp cheddar cheese.
5. Divide the shredded cheese into two equal portions; one for the cheese sauce and one for layering.
6. In a separate container, combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika to taste for seasonings.
7. In a pan on medium heat, melt 3 tablespoons of butter.
8. Once the butter is melted, add half of the seasoning mixture to bloom the seasonings, and cook for about 30 seconds.
9. Add 3 tablespoons of flour to the pan to create a roux, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
10. Using a whisk, slowly add 12 ounces of evaporated milk, a quarter of the can at a time, making sure to whisk out all the flour clumps to create a béchamel.
11. Mix the béchamel for about a minute.
12. Add about 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard and mix it in.
13. Slowly add 2 cups of heavy cream, a little at a time, mixing continuously on medium heat.
14. Let it cook for about 2 minutes after adding the last bit of heavy cream.
15. Lower the heat to low and slowly add half of the shredded cheese, mixing until completely melted before adding more.
16. Add the rest of the seasoning mixture and mix it in.
17. Once all the cheese is melted, add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce.
18. Fold the pasta into the cheese sauce until it's well combined.
19. Take a baking dish and put half of the mac and cheese in it.
20. Layer with some of the remaining shredded cheese.
21. Add the rest of the mac and cheese to the baking dish.
22. Top with the remaining shredded cheese.
23. Bake in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted.
24. Broil for 2 minutes for a golden-brown top.

## Equipment

- Large Pot
- Grater
- Whisk
- Baking dish
- Spatula

## Tips

- Always shred your own cheese; pre-shredded cheese contains starches that can make the mac and cheese grainy.
- When boiling pasta for mac and cheese, boil it for 8 minutes if eating right away, or 7 minutes if preparing it the night before to prevent overcooking as it absorbs the cheese sauce.
- When adding cheese to the sauce, keep the heat on low and add it slowly to prevent curdling.

## Source

- Original video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UpDSPW/
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/fb071fd5-aea0-4825-b8a9-9b7887b0a444
- Extracted: 2025-12-06

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