Kicked Up Mac and Cheese

Recipe View Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). (5 minutes)

Recipe View Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente. Drain well. (15 minutes)

Recipe View In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute until a smooth paste forms (a roux). (2 minutes)

Recipe View Gradually whisk in the milk, ensuring no lumps form. Add the dry mustard, salt, white pepper, and hot pepper sauce. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring continuously. Boil for 1 minute, then remove from the heat. (8 minutes)

Recipe View Whisk in the pepper jack, Cheddar, and Parmesan cheeses until the sauce is smooth, creamy, and utterly irresistible. (3 minutes)

Recipe View Stir in the cooked rotini pasta, ensuring every strand is coated in the luscious cheese sauce. Pour the mixture into a shallow 2-quart baking dish. (2 minutes)

Recipe View In a small bowl, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir in the bread crumbs and chili powder until evenly combined. Sprinkle this flavorful mixture over the macaroni and cheese. (3 minutes)

Recipe View Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly. (30 minutes)

Recipe View Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. This allows the sauce to thicken slightly and the flavors to meld together perfectly. (10 minutes)