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Tini's Mac and Cheese


Course Dinner, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 12 people
A serving spoon scooping mac and cheese out of a casserole dish.

With three cheeses, heavy cream, and carefully selected spices, each bite of Tini's Mac and Cheese is a decadent experience. Follow this recipe and embark on the journey of crafting a homemade baked mac and cheese that stands out from the rest!

Ingredients  

  • 1 pound mozzarella cheese Get a block from the deli; it's harder, cheaper, and easier to shred than the softer packaged balls.
  • 1 pound Colby Jack cheese
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar yellow preferred
  • 1 pound cavatappi pasta
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • fresh chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Shred the blocks of cheese: 1 pound mozzarella cheese, 1 pound Colby Jack cheese, and 8 ounces sharp cheddar into a large mixing bowl, then toss together and transfer half to a separate bowl.
    Fresh shredded cheese on a wooden board.
  • Cook 1 pound cavatappi pasta in salted water according to package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
  • While the pasta is cooking, combine 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper in a small prep bowl and set aside.
  • Melt 3 tablespoons salted butter in a skillet, then add half the seasoning mix and stir.
  • Add 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour and immediately whisk and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, the butter/flour mixture should be bubbling.
    Flour being added to melted butter and spices to make a roux.
  • Add the 1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk and whisk constantly. Once it begins to thicken and bubble in the middle of the pan, add 2 cups heavy cream, the remaining half of the seasoning, and 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard and whisk until thickened.
    Evaporated milk being added to a roux to make mac and cheese sauce.
  • Add half of the shredded cheese mixture to the skillet a handful at a time and stir until completely melted and thick.
    Shredded cheese being added to cream sauce for mac and cheese.
  • Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to coat.
    Overhead photo of creamy mac and cheese being spooned out of a skillet.
  • Transfer half the pasta mixture to a 9x13-inch baking pan and layer with a third of the remaining cheese. Add the rest of the mac and cheese on top then finish with the rest of the cheese.
    mac and cheese and extra shredded cheese being layered in a baking dish.
  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, then broil for 1 to 2 minutes to give the mac and cheese a nice bubbly, golden brown top.
    Close up of a baked mac and cheese.
  • Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.

Notes

  • 1 teaspoon of mustard powder can be used instead of Dijon Mustard. 
  • Mozzarella cheese can be reduced by up to 1/2 lb.

Nutrition

Calories: 649kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 27g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 137mg | Sodium: 832mg | Potassium: 226mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1575IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 621mg | Iron: 1mg

Find it online: www.sugarandsoul.co/tinis-mac-and-cheese/