Description
Creamy, dreamy mac and cheese gets a smoky upgrade with Gouda and a hint of cayenne. Perfect comfort food!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 lbs (454 g) Cavatappi Pasta
- 1 1/2 cups (355 ml) whole milk
- 1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1/2 lbs (227 g) smoked Gouda (grated)
- 1/2 lbs (227 g) sharp cheddar (grated)
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp ground white pepper
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/3 cups (80 ml) chopped chives (optional)
Instructions
- In a large deep-sided skillet, bring 4 cups of water to a boil over high heat.
- Once boiling, add the cavatappi pasta and 1 tsp kosher salt.
- Bring back to a boil and stir frequently for 10 minutes, until almost all the water has been absorbed and the pasta is cooked.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining ingredients, stirring until the cheese is melted and everything is fully combined.
- Serve the mac and cheese with a sprinkling of chives.
Notes
- For a smoother sauce, blend a portion of the cheese sauce before adding it to the pasta.
- If smoked Gouda is unavailable, substitute with a similar strong cheese like Gruyere or aged cheddar.
- For best results, use freshly grated cheese. Pre-grated cheese often contains cellulose which can affect the texture.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 20
- Cholesterol: 60