Best Southwestern Mac Cheese Recipes

HONEY BOURBON GLAZED SMOKED SPARERIBS, WITH BEER BACON BBQ SAUCE AND SOUTHWESTERN GREEN CHILI MAC 'N' CHEESE

Steps:

• For the honey bourbon glaze: Pour the bourbon into a saucepan over low heat; ignite bourbon to burn off the alcohol for about 5 minutes. Add the honey and brown sugar and whisk to thicken. Simmer for another 3 minutes, then remove from heat. Pour glaze into a small bowl and set aside.
• For the beer bacon bbq sauce: Heat a large pot on high heat, then add the butter and let it melt for 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Add the onions and garlic. Saute until translucent. Add the beer and bacon and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Add the apple cider vinegar and reduce by a quarter, then add ketchup, molasses, granulated sugar, brisket drippings, chili powder, Worcestershire, salt and pepper and cook on low heat for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let cool for 10 minutes, then puree in a blender until smooth, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• For the ribs: Whisk together the salt, pepper, chile powder and garlic powder in a small bowl. Drizzle a little canola oil over the ribs, front and back, then rub the oil in. Holding your hand high, season both sides of the ribs with rub. Be sure to get an even coating on both sides, along with the sides of the ribs.
• Soak 5 to 6 paper towels with canola oil, then open the smoker lid and place soaked paper towels in the smoker with 1 chunk hickory, 2 small chunks apple wood and a few handfuls charcoal. Light the paper towels. Let the coals burn down for 20 to 30 minutes. Add a couple more chunks hickory, apple and charcoal, then let smoker come up to 250 degrees F. Place a small pan of water on smoker rack, then place ribs in smoker. Let cook 30 to 40 minutes.
• Add another chunk of each wood and more charcoal; repeat this process every 30 to 45 minutes. At 2 hours into the cooking process, spritz ribs with apple cider vinegar, then spritz every 30 minutes until the third hour of cooking. At the third hour, wrap the ribs in foil and place back on the smoker. At the 4 1/2-hour mark, take the ribs out of foil and glaze with the honey bourbon. Let glaze set in for 20 to 30 minutes in the smoker meat-side up. Let ribs rest for 10 to 15 minutes, then slice. Drizzle ribs with Beer Bacon BBQ sauce and toss. Garnish the ribs with sliced scallions.
• For the Southwestern Green Chili Mac 'n' Cheese: Meanwhile, heat four cups half-and-half to a gentle boil in a medium-large saucepot. Add the garlic, chipotle sauce, cumin, seafood seasoning and thyme, then add the American cheese, whisking until smooth and melted. Fold in the pasta and green chiles and heat through until lightly bubbly. Add the shredded jack, Cheddar and Gouda. If the pasta is too thick, add in another cup or two of half-and-half to smooth it out. Season to taste with salt and fresh ground pepper. Garnish with toasted buttered breadcrumbs and a sprinkle of Korean chile flakes.
• If you prefer baked mac 'n' cheese, place pasta into a casserole dish, sprinkle a handful of extra Cheddar and jack cheeses on top and bake at 350 degrees F until browned and bubbly, about 30 minutes.

SOUTHWESTERN MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Cook macaroni as directed on package, omitting salt. Meanwhile, brown meat with bell peppers in large skillet; drain.
• Heat dressing in large saucepan. Add flour; cook and stir 1 min. or until bubbly. Gradually whisk in milk; cook and stir 6 to 8 min. or until thickened. Add cheese, mustard and black pepper; cook and stir 2 min. or until cheese is melted and mixture is well blended.
• Drain macaroni. Add to cheese sauce; mix well. Stir in meat mixture and tomatoes and green chilies. Spoon into casserole dish sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake 25 to 35 min. or until golden brown and sauce is bubbly. Let stand 2 min. before serving.

KICKIN' SOUTHWESTERN MAC 'N CHEESE WITH SAUSAGE

Steps:

• In large deep frying pan, brown onion and meat, breaking up as you go, until no longer pink in the middle. Remove with slotted spoon to a medium-sized bowl. Drain grease from pan and wipe out with a paper towel.
• Add salsa, water, bouillon and spices. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add noodles, reduce to medium-low, cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes until noodles are tender and water has been absorbed. (*If you have excess water, just uncover, increase heat and lightly boil until water evaporates.) Stir in sausage mixture and Velveeta. Stir until cheese has melted. Serve with toppings of choice!
• *I always use Superior Touch Better than Bouillon Beef Base. It's in the same aisle as regular bouillon. It's much better than cubes or dried granules.

MAC 'N CHEESE SOUTHWESTERN STYLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350^.Cook pasta according to package directions, drain. Place cooked pasta into lightly greased 1 1/2 - quart casserole dish; set aside.
• Combine American cheese slices and milk in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted about 5-8 minutes. Stir in salsa. Pour cheese mixture over pasta; stir to combine.
• Top with black beans and pepper jack cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly around edges and cheese is melted.(cover with foil if cheese is browning too quickly)
• Just before serving, garnish with chopped tomatoes, green onions and cilantro.

SOUTHWESTERN MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• 1. Cook Kraft Macaroni & Cheese as directed on box in medium sized saucepan. While the macaroni and cheese cooks, brown the ground beef in a large skillet, breaking up with fork and cooking until no pink shows. To ground beef in skillet add chopped jalapeno and saute for about 1 minute. Add can of Del Monte diced Tomatoes with zesty green chiles to meat mixture. Cook until heated.
• 2. When macaroni and cheese has been made add it to the meat and tomato mixture in large skillet and stir to combine.
• 3. Spoon mixture onto 4 plates. Top each plate with 1 tbsp. sour cream, then with avocado slices. Serve with green salad.