Description
A delicious and creamy mac and cheese made with a variety of cheeses and spices.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz cavatappi pasta or elbow macaroni
- 16 oz colby jack cheese (two 8-ounce blocks)
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese (shredded from a hard block, not soft mozzarella)
- 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons salted butter (plus more for greasing the baking dish)
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 12 oz evaporated milk (1 can)
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish with butter.
- Grate all your cheeses, mix them together and divide in half. You can use two gallon zip-top bags and store them in the fridge if prepping ahead.
- Combine all seasonings (smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper) in a small bowl and set aside.
- Cook the pasta to al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Add half of the seasoning mixture and stir.
- Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until it bubbles lightly. This creates the roux.
- Pour in the evaporated milk, heavy cream, remaining seasonings, and dijon mustard. Whisk constantly until smooth. Bring to a low boil and allow the sauce to thicken.
- Add half of the cheese mixture in small portions, stirring with a spatula after each addition until completely melted and incorporated.
- Fold the cooked pasta into the cheese sauce, making sure every piece is evenly coated.
- Transfer half of the mac and cheese into the prepared 9×13 casserole dish. Sprinkle half of the remaining cheese over this layer.
- Pour the rest of the mac and cheese on top, then add the final layer of remaining cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes until bubbly and golden. For those signature brown spots, broil for 3-4 minutes at the end (watch carefully to avoid burning).
Notes
- You can prep the cheese mixture ahead of time.
- For extra flavor, experiment with different cheese combinations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 700
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 26g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg