Knox absolutely loves California Pizza Kitchen and we go there at least once a week. Out of sheer convenience and cost, I wanted to find a way to recreate California Pizza Kitchen Curly Mac N’ Cheese. I am so excited that I discovered the copycat recipe that is served on the Kids Menu!
Let me preface this by saying, CPK’s sales will not suffer from sharing this! We go there so much that the staff knows us by name and our order’s memorized. I made this at home for him two times this week and we went to CPK after church on Sunday. I was sure he would order the Pepperoni Pizza. Nope, he ordered the Curly Mac N’ Cheese!
How To Make CPK Curly Mac N’ Cheese
I went on Google and Pinterest and did my research to find the exact copycat recipe. The first attempt was not an exact recreation, because one recipe called for half and half and Rotini noodles. Even with such small variations, Knox knew the difference and was not a fan.
Thankfully, YouTube has a video of one of their chef’s making it and shares that the recipe calls for whipping cream and Fusilli noodles! That’s it. Fusilli noodles, whipping cream and Velveeta cheese.
After speaking with the General Manager at our favorite CPK, he confirmed that this was in fact the recipe. After making it, I could not believe how simple it is. It left me shaking my head, knowing all this time I could have been making it at home instead of making special curbside trips to CPK just for Knox!
This is the creamiest Macaroni and Cheese recipe and uses just five ingredients. Fred loves it just as much as Knox does, and I have had friends tell me they order it off the kids menu for themselves, because it’s THAT good.
If you have never experienced this creamy goodness, do yourself a favor and make this tonight! You and your kids will love it! And the next time you’re dining at CPK, don’t forget about the decadent ice cream sundaes that are only $.99! They are also a favorite of Knox’s!
They also have a cookbook with some of their best selling plates. I can’t wait to recreate Fred’s favorite Jambalaya pasta and my go-to chicken lettuce wraps!
Here’s to restaurants that we love sharing our favorite recipes that we can recreate at home! Also, make sure to check out our favorite Crockpot Mac and Cheese recipe that makes an amazing side dish for gatherings! I hope you love CPK’s Curly Mac ‘N’ Cheese just as much as we do!
California Pizza Kitchen Curly Mac 'N' Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 8 oz. block Velveeta Original, cubed
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 16 oz. box fusilli pasta 1 lb.
- 1 tablespoon butter optional
Instructions
Crockpot Pressure Cooker Mode:
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Add pasta, 4 cups water, whipping cream and cheese. Put lid on lock, place valve to no venting, press the steam button and adjust time to 5 minutes. Do an immediate release and stir until well combined.
Stove Top:
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Cook pasta according to package directions.
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Heat whipping cream and cheese together in saucepan over medium heat until melted.
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Stir in pasta until well combined.
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Serve with edamame if desired.
Recipe Notes
The real CPK recipe uses milk mixed into the whipping cream, but for the sake of easiness and getting the measurements exact I omitted it. Feel free to add milk and subtract some cream and whip, before melting with cheese!
1 Comment
Customwritings
March 22, 2018 at 2:59 amThank you Steve Edmiston and Scott Schaefer.custom writings