Best Mexican Mac N Cheese Recipes

MEXICAN MAC-N-CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add the butter, corn, onions, red peppers, garlic and 1 teaspoon of salt to a medium saucepot set over medium-high heat. Saute until the onions are translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the cumin, chile powder, cayenne pepper and flour and cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, to make a roux, 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in the cold milk in a steady stream, stirring vigorously until the mixture is smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until starting to thicken, 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in the cheddar and Monterey Jack. Cook until the sauce is smooth and creamy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the scallions, pepper and rigatoni and mix well to combine.
• Pour the into a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle the panko evenly over the top and cover with foil. Bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling. Remove to a cooling rack and let rest for 8 to 10 minutes.
• Garnish with the cotija, jalapeno and cilantro. Serve immediately.

FIESTA MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook the macaroni in the boiling water until just undercooked. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the red onion and corn and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the onion turns golden brown and the corn begins to blister, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the green chiles to combine. Set aside.
• To make the sauce, melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Sprinkle in the flour, whisking to combine. Let the roux cook for a minute or so, whisking constantly. Pour in the milk, whisking constantly, followed by 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Cook the white sauce until thick and bubbly, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the half-and-half and adobo sauce. Add the processed cheese, 1 cup of the Monterey Jack and 1 cup of the pepper jack and continue to cook, stirring, until the cheese all melts. Add the cooked macaroni and stir to coat. Fold in the diced tomatoes and chiles.
• Butter a 9-by-13-inch disposable foil pan. Layer with half of the macaroni mixture, then half the corn mixture. Repeat the layers, ending with the corn mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup Monterey Jack and 1 cup pepper jack over the top. Sprinkle the crushed tortilla chips all over the cheese, then sprinkle with chili powder.
• To bake immediately, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake until bubbly and hot, 20 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle over the chopped cilantro and serve.
• To freeze the casserole for later, let cool completely, then cover with aluminum foil, fold over the edges to seal and freeze.
• If cooking from frozen, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cook, covered, for 50 minutes, then uncover and bake until light brown and bubbly, about another 20 minutes. Sprinkle over the chopped cilantro and serve.

BAKED MEXICAN MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package; set aside.
• In 3-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, mustard, salt, pepper and garlic; cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is tender. Stir in flour. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is bubbly. Remove from heat.
• Stir in yogurt, stirring constantly. Gently stir in cheeses; stir in pasta. Pour into ungreased 2-quart casserole. Sprinkle with bread crumbs.
• Bake uncovered about 25 minutes or until bubbly.

MEXICAN MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in lime juice. Stir in 1-1/2 cups cheddar cheese and 1 cup pepper Jack cheese until melted. , Remove from the heat. Stir in the jalapeno, chili powder and salt. Drain macaroni; add to cheese sauce and toss to coat. , Transfer to a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Top with remaining cheeses; sprinkle with paprika. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

MEXICAN MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine cream, half and half, asadero-style and Manchego cheese in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over low heat until cheese melts. Remove from heat. Add celery seeds and cayenne pepper. Season sauce with salt and pepper. Beat yolks in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in sauce. Add macaroni and stir to blend. Butter 4 quart baking dish. Pour macaroni and sauce into dish. Mix Cotija cheese and bread crumbs in small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over macaroni. Bake until sauce is bubbling and top is beginning to brown, about 25 minutes.