Hard Rock Cafe Twisted Mac and Cheese
Hard Rock Cafe Twisted Mac & Cheese is cavatappi pasta tossed in a slightly spicy cheese sauce with roasted red peppers and topped with Parmesan parsley breadcrumbs. A copycat version of a favorite restaurant dish!
Servings 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb cavatappi pasta
- ⅔ cup milk plus a splash more
- 8 oz Velveeta cheese cubed
- 1 ¼ cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese shredded
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ cup roasted bell pepper diced
- 4 teaspoon Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- 4 teaspoon Parmesan cheese grated
- ¼ teaspoon parsley finely minced
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, bring salted water to boil to cook your cavatappi. Once cooked, drain the pasta and set aside.1 lb cavatappi pasta
- To the same saucepan, add the milk, Velveeta, cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, cayenne pepper and black pepper and heat over low for about 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and sauce is smooth.2/3 cup milk, 8 oz Velveeta cheese, 1 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Add in the cooked pasta and roasted pepper to the pan, and then toss to coat the pasta.1/4 cup roasted bell pepper
- To a small bowl, add the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese and parsley and toss to combine.4 teaspoon Italian seasoned bread crumbs, 4 teaspoon Parmesan cheese, 1/4 teaspoon parsley
- Pour your pasta into a serving bowl and then sprinkle Parmesan breadcrumbs over the top.
Notes
- To roast the red bell pepper, you can either take it out to the grill or set it directly over the flame of a gas stove set to medium heat. Turn the pepper as the skin blisters and chars black. Place the pepper in a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. After a few minutes you can easily remove the skin.
- If you have an electric stove you can use your broiler. Rub the bell pepper with olive oil and salt, roast for 10 minutes under the broiler, then peel and dice.
- You can also use a jar of roasted red bell peppers.
- If you're an area that doesn't sell Velveeta, I would up the cheddar cheese and throw in some cubed cream cheese.
- If you can't find twisted cavatappi noodles, use whatever kind of short pasta you like.
- Store leftovers covered in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 555kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 971mg | Potassium: 382mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 861IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 586mg | Iron: 1mg
