Spicy Mexican-Style Macaroni Cheese Recipe

Spicy Mexican-Style Macaroni Cheese Recipe

Revamped Recipe:

Let's take a spin on traditional mac and cheese with this Tex-Mex-inspired dish - Chorizo-Stuffed Macaroni and Cheese. This hearty meal is perfect for those nights when you crave something loaded with flavor. It's like digging into a plate of nachos, but in a comforting, cheesy casserole.

What You'll Need:- Mexican chorizo (fresh sausage, not Spanish chorizo) can be mild or spicy, found at specialty markets or online. If unavailable, use any fresh, spicy sausage instead.- This recipe is one of our Unusual Twists on Macaroni and Cheese series.

• Serves: 6-8
• Difficulty: A breeze
• Prep Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients (13)

• 5 oz tortilla chips, crushed
• 1 lb pasta shells (or another small pasta shape)
• 5 Tbsp butter
• 12 oz Mexican chorizo, casings removed
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp salt, plus extra as needed
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 5 cups whole milk
• 16 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese (around 4 cups)
• 16 oz Monterey Jack cheese (around 4 cups)
• 2 (4-oz) cans chopped pickled jalapeños or green chiles (drained, approximately 1 cup)

Let's Get Cooking!

1. Set the oven to 400°F and position a rack in the center.
2. Boil a large pot or Dutch oven full of generously salted water. Meanwhile, process the tortilla chips in a food processor into fine crumbs, or crush them in a plastic bag using a rolling pin. Reserve about 1 cup crumbs.
3. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook as per package instructions, or until just shy of al dente. Drain well, then rinse with cold water to cool and prevent sticking. Drain again.
4. In a Dutch oven (or the same pot, no need for rinsing), melt 1 tbsp butter over medium-high heat, then add the chorizo. Cook, stirring frequently, until browned and crumbly. Remove chorizo to a bowl.
5. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining butter, and once melted, stir in the onion. Sauté until soft, about 6 minutes. Mix in the flour, salt, mustard, and cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the flour turns slightly darker in color, around 2 minutes.
6. Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly to combine. The mixture will thicken quickly. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce simmers and thickens slightly, around 8-10 minutes.
7. Stir in the cheeses, reserving a bit for topping, and cook until completely melted and smooth. Fold in the cooked pasta, sautéed onions, and chorizo. Mix in the jalapeños or green chiles. Cook until heated through, about 4-6 minutes. Season with salt as needed.
8. Transfer the mixture to a 13x9-inch baking dish, and top withthe remaining cheese and crushed tortilla chips. Bake until bubbly around the edges, around 20 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Enjoy the unique combination of flavors in this Chorizo-Stuffed Macaroni and Cheese!

1. To give a nutritional twist to this recipe, consider adding more vegetables like bell peppers or tomatoes based on your preferred nutrition preferences.
2. For an even bigger kick of flavor, try adding teaspoons of smoked paprika or a dash of chipotle pepper in adobo sauce to the chorizo mixture.
3. If you prefer a vegetarian option, replace the Mexican chorizo with a plant-based alternative or omit it completely and double the quantity of vegetables used.
4. Don't forget to attach the printable copy of the Chorizo-Stuffed Macaroni and Cheese recipe to your blog post or recipe subsection under the title "Uncategorized" for easy access for visitors.

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