CREAMY CAVATAPPI & CHEESE

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Creamy Cavatappi & Cheese image

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

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 50m

Yield 10 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 15

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 coarsley crumbled
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 green onion, chopped
Coarsely ground pepper, optional

Steps:

  • Cook cavatappi according to package directions., 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., Stir in cheeses until melted; add green onions. Drain cavatappi; stir into cheese mixture., Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Combine the bread crumbs, bacon and melted butter; sprinkle over top., Bake, uncovered, at 350° until bubbly, 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle with green onion and, if desired, pepper.

Nutrition Facts :

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