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Creamy Cavatappi Cheese Exps Miti23 166145 Dr 03 08 4b

Creamy Cavatappi & Cheese

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. Bake: 20 min. YIELD: 10 servings.
Dive fork-first into oodles of noodles baked to bubbly perfection and coated with a to-die-for sharp cheddar cheese sauce in this cavatappi, a grown-up version of mac and cheese. Hot sauce lends mild heat that’s delectable with the smoky topping. —Barbara Colucci, Rockledge, Florida

Ingredients

  • 6 cups uncooked cavatappi or spiral pasta
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce
  • 4 cups 2% milk
  • 6 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup cubed Velveeta
  • 3 green onions, chopped
  • TOPPINGS:
  • 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 3 thick-sliced bacon strips, cooked and coarsely crumbled
  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted
  • 1 green onion, chopped
  • Coarsely ground pepper, optional

Directions

  • 1. Cook cavatappi according to package directions.
  • 2. Meanwhile, saute garlic in butter in a Dutch oven. Stir in flour and pepper sauce until blended; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes.
  • 3. Stir in cheeses until melted; add green onions. Drain cavatappi; stir into cheese mixture.
  • 4. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Combine the bread crumbs, bacon and melted butter; sprinkle over top.
  • 5. Bake, uncovered, at 350° until bubbly, 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle with green onion and, if desired, pepper.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 706 calories, 38g fat (21g saturated fat), 110mg cholesterol, 782mg sodium, 60g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 3g fiber), 32g protein.

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