Southwestern Macaroni-and-Cheese

Does macaroni-and-cheese with tomatoes and black beans in it make it healthier? I’m not sure. Probably not. I am sure that this Southwestern macaroni-and-cheese was fantastic. You take your pretty favorite standard recipe and add a few things. That’s it. It’s something totally different than the usual. Still creamy and still cheesy, just different.

Southwestern Macaroni-and-Cheese

I use Cholula hot sauce in recipes like this southwestern macaroni-and-cheese because I find it to be a great, fairly mellow, hot sauce. It’s not in-your-face hot and it has a great peppery flavor. It’s perfect on just about anything.

Also try my Civil War mac-and-cheese.

Southwestern Macaroni-and-Cheese
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4 from 1 vote

Southwestern Macaroni-and-Cheese

Does macaroni-and-cheese with tomatoes and black beans in it make it healthier? I’m not sure. Probably not. I am sure that this Southwestern macaroni-and-cheese was fantastic.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword mac and cheese, macaroni and cheese, southwestern
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 7kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Prepare the macaroni and cheese as directed. Keep warm.
  • Stir in the beans and tomato along with the Cajun seasoning or hot sauce, if using.
  • Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.

Nutrition

Calories: 7kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 56mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 190IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Wiz Dogs

I have a habit of copying recipes from restaurants or food trucks I hear about or see on TV. Here lately I’ve been on a major campaign to copy some of the crazy great dogs from Duke’s Gourmet Dogs in Minster, Ohio, which closed recently. Sadly. Warm chili. Crunchy potato straws (an ingredient I haven’t had in years). And my favorite, ooey gooey cheese sauce. Lots and lots of cheese sauce. Wiz dogs are crazy good.

Like I’ve said before, if it’s going to be messy to eat, it’s going to taste great and Wiz dogs are definitely messy and therefore, great to eat!

Wiz Dogs

I was tempted to add a few chopped jalapenos to these Wiz dogs. I like some kick to my dogs but I went another route and used spicy cheese sauce instead. Nothing beats cheese on a hot dog. Except for maybe macaroni-and-cheese. Yes, on a hot dog.

Try my Charlie Mac dog too.

Wiz Dogs
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5 from 1 vote

Wiz Dogs

Like I’ve said before, if it’s going to be messy to eat, it’s going to taste great and Wiz dogs are definitely messy and great!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword hot dogs
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 360kcal
Author Based on a menu item from Duke’s Gourmet Hot Dogs

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Fire up your grill and cook the dogs and warm the buns.
  • Assemble hot dogs by adding weiners to the buns. Top with plenty of chili, potato straws and plenty of cheese sauce.
  • Top with jalapeno slices, if desired.
  • Serve with plenty of paper towels.

Nutrition

Calories: 360kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 1009mg | Potassium: 240mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 674IU | Vitamin C: 54mg | Calcium: 132mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Chorizo-Stuffed Fritos on the Char-Broil Big Easy

Very few things are as addicting as chorizo-stuffed Fritos made on the Char-Broil Big Easy. These little bite-sized snacks disappear in no time. As an added bonus, they are incredibly easy to make. You can fit a whole bunch of stuffed Fritos on the Big Easy, making it perfect for cooking for a crowd, if you have the available cooking rack.

Chorizo-Stuffed Fritos on the Char-Broil Big Easy

Just about anything you put in the Fritos is going to taste great. I used Mexican chorizo because I love the spiciness that is brings to dishes, but ground breakfast sausage would also be fantastic.

Be careful when pulling these chorizo-stuffed Fritos off your Big Easy. In no time the chips get mighty hot, so use tongs or let them cool a bit first before handling and eating. You can also make these great Fritos on your grill.

Love your Big Easy as much I love mine? Check out my Big Easy Add-Ons page and my free Big Easy eCookbook!

Note: This recipe was developed using the Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Fryer. If you are cooking using the Char-Broil Smoker-Roaster Grill you should cook with the lid open and the temperature set to High. You might also need to adjust the cooking time.

Chorizo-Stuffed Fritos on the Char-Broil Big Easy
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4 from 1 vote

Chorizo-Stuffed Fritos on the Char-Broil Big Easy

Very few things are as addicting as chorizo-stuffed Fritos. These little bite-sized snacks disappear in no time. As an added bonus, they are incredibly easy to make.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword Big Easy, Char-Broil, corn chips, sausage, stuffed
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 271kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

  • 2 bags Fritos Scoops grab 2 bags in case it’s hard to find the perfectly-shaped chips
  • 1 pound Mexican chorizo cooked, finely crumbled (Note: If you cannot crumble the sausage well enough, toss the slightly-cooled cooked chorizo into a food processor and pulse a few times)
  • 2 cups shredded cheese extra sharp cheddar or pepperjack work great!
  • 1 cup Ranch salad dressing
  • 2 tablespoons chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce or more, to taste, chopped, along with some of the adobo sauce
  • 4 green onions sliced thin, for garnish

Instructions

  • Fire up your Big Easy.
  • Open the bag of chips and place in a large bowl. Go through them and grab the biggest, best scooping chips you can find.
  • Combine the crumbled chorizo and cheese. Press lightly into the chips and transfer to the cooking rack.
  • Lower rack into the Big Easy and cook until the cheese is melted on all levels, about 5 minutes.
  • Remove the rack and let cool slightly.
  • While the chips are cooling whisk together the dressing and chipotle with adobo.
  • Serve chips drizzled with the sauce and garnished with green onions.

Notes

You’ll need the 6-level cooking rack from Char-Broil to heat up a bunch of these treats at once.

Nutrition

Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 639mg | Potassium: 38mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 501IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Trailer Park Dog

This is my take on the Trailer Park Dog, another great dog from the Dougie Dog food truck from Vancouver, Canada. I’ve been watching the show Eat Street on the Cooking Channel. They recently had an episode where they visited Dougie Dog and after seeing all the great dogs they have, I decided to make my own versions. Of course, if they had a truck here in Indianapolis, I’d be camped outside their door right now.

Trailer Park Dog

Is there an easier hot dog recipe? Probably, but not a good one. Don’t laugh at the simplicity of these hot dogs. They’re actually quite tasty. You get a crunch from the chips and a nice creamy cheesiness from… well, the cheese.

I was going to serve these trailer park dogs on some fru-fru fancy hot dog rolls I picked up from Taylor’s Bakery, but that just didn’t seem right. Grab yourself a pack of the cheapest buns you can find and enjoy some good dogs.

Also try my Alpine hot dogs.

Trailer Park Dog
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4 from 1 vote

Trailer Park Dog

Is there an easier hot dog recipe? Probably, but not a good one. Don’t laugh at the simplicity of these hot dogs. They’re actually quite tasty. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword hot dogs
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 7
Calories 263kcal
Author Based on a menu item from Dougie Dog

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Just cook up the dogs and warm the buns.
  • Top with cheese sauce and crumbled potato chips.
  • Add jalapenos if you like.

Nutrition

Calories: 263kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 633mg | Potassium: 268mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 181IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Jersey City Hot Dog

I love a good hot dog. Easy to make, fun to eat. Stuff has to fall off while you’re eating it. That’s the sign of a great hot dog (actually, it’s the sign of good food, period). This Jersey City hot dog combines some of the best things you can have: spicy BBQ sauce, smoked bacon, onion, and of course… cheese. A little crunch and a little kick. Perfect!

Jersey City Hot Dog

I used some of my homemade applewood-smoked maple bacon on my Jersey City hot dog. Wow, what a great combination of flavors. Don’t skimp on the bacon. Life’s too short for tasteless cheap bacon. I didn’t go wimpy on the BBQ sauce. Nope, I used my favorite Bayou BBQ Cajun sauce from Frog Bone. It’s a nice thin sauce with great spice and kick.

Also try my Memphis-style BBQ hot dogs.

Jersey City Hot Dog
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5 from 1 vote

Jersey City Hot Dog

This Jersey City hot dog combines some of the best things you can have: spicy BBQ sauce, smoked bacon, onion, and of course… cheese. A little crunch and a little kick. Perfect!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword hot dogs
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 1312kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

  • 4 hot dogs
  • 4 hot dog buns
  • your favorite spicy BBQ Sauce
  • extra sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 small white onion chopped
  • 4 slices bacon cooked, crumbled or chopped

Instructions

  • Cook or grill your dogs as desired.
  • Warm buns.
  • Add dogs to buns and top with BBQ sauce and cheese. Place under broiler just long enough to melt the cheese.
  • Add the onion and bacon and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 1312kcal | Carbohydrates: 126g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 68g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 2667mg | Potassium: 755mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 36IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 358mg | Iron: 11mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Green Chile Mac and Cheese Stew

Oh my goodness. There’s just about every taste I love in one bowl. I could eat this green chile mac and cheese stew all day long. Spicy Mexican chorizo. Beefy broth. Tomatoes with chiles. Beans. All with a lot of kick. This is not a wimpy savory bowl of stew here. Nope, it’s not for the faint of heart (or stomach). But it is the perfect dish for a cold day. It’s gonna warm you up for sure!

Green Chile Mac and Cheese Stew

Just about any cheeses can be used in this green chile mac and cheese stew, but I kept the spicy theme going and topped it with a freshly shredded habanero jack cheese. There’s nothing wimpy about it. This dish has some serious kick in each every spoonful!

I like to use my good ole trusty Dutch oven to make this stew and pretty much darned near anything like it on my stovetop. It’s nice and big and sturdy. That extra weight helps it maintain and distribute heat perfectly. As an added bonus, it’s actually pretty easy to clean up too!

For a nice twist, substitute a can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes for the tomatoes with chiles.

Also try some Chet’s Truckers stew.

Green Chile Mac and Cheese Stew
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5 from 1 vote

Green Chile Mac and Cheese Stew

Oh my goodness. Just about every taste I love in one bowl. I could eat this green chile mac and cheese stew all day long. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword stew
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 365kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Crumble the chorizo into a large pot over high heat. Cook until done.
  • Add the onion. Cook until tender, 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the beef broth, tomatoes, beans, chili powder, and pepper flake.
  • Bring to a boil.
  • Add pasta, stir and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 7-8 minutes or until the pasta is al denta.
  • Add the green chile sauce and Velveeta. Cook until the cheese is completely melted, stirring occasionally.
  • Serve garnished with Habanero Jack cheese and chopped fresh cilantro.

Nutrition

Calories: 365kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 1323mg | Potassium: 295mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 879IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 188mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Mac-and-Cheese Waffles

It had to be done. I’ve made fries on a waffle iron. I’ve cooked breakfast sausage on a waffle iron and I’ve even made brownies on a waffle iron. So it made perfect sense to make mac-and-cheese waffles.

What makes for a great mac-and-cheese? A nice crunchy outside and a creamy inside. Well, here it is. Crunchy and creamy, all in one, and a great way to use up leftover mac-and-cheese. Heck, it doesn’t even have to be leftover.

Mac-and-Cheese Waffles

You can use any mac-and-cheese recipe you want for mac-and-cheese waffles. Just make sure you let it set for a few hours (or best, overnight) before cutting it and putting it on the waffle iron. It needs to be nice and… well, solid.

Also try my macaroni-and-cheese muffins.

Mac-and-Cheese Waffles
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4 from 1 vote

Mac-and-Cheese Waffles

What makes for a great mac-and-cheese? A nice crunchy outside and a creamy inside. Well, here it is. Crunchy and creamy, all in one.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword mac and cheese, macaroni and cheese, waffles
Prep Time 8 hours
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 8 hours 25 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 455kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

For the mac-and-cheese

  • Melt the butter over medium heat in a large skillet or the same pot you cooked the macaroni in.
  • Whisk in the flour and cook for 3 minutes, whisking constantly.
  • Slowly pour in the milk, 1/2 cup at a time, and whisk. Whisk steadily for about 10 minutes until any lumps are gone and the mixture is nice and creamy smooth.
  • Remove from heat and add the salt, pepper, cayenne (if using) and 2 cups of the cheese. Stir until the cheese has melted.
  • Line a 9″ x 13″ baking dish with parchment or wax paper.
  • Pour in the macaroni and cheese and level out with a spatula.
  • Let cool before placing into the fridge for at least eight hours.

For the mac-and-cheese waffles

  • Heat your waffle iron and spray well with non-stick spray.
  • Working in batches, cut the macaroni and cheese into whatever sizes and shapes you want.
  • Sprinkle a bit of cheese on the waffle iron and add the macaroni and cheese. Top with a bit more cheese and close the waffle iron. Do not press down. Cook 5-6 minutes.
  • Turn off the waffle iron and let cool 5-10 minutes or until you can remove the mac-and-cheese without it sticking. Keep warm in the oven on low as you cook the remaining mac-and-cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 455kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 531mg | Potassium: 239mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 844IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 501mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Marinated Cheese

My wife told me that her sister was coming over to spend the night. No way was I gonna serve something out-of-a-box. Nope. I had to pull out the big guns. No shortcuts. This marinated cheese was it. And truth be told, it was easy.

Marinated Cheese

Everyone absolutely loved this marinated cheese. It’s hard to stop eating it. The combination of the soft, smooth cream cheese and sturdy, tangy extra sharp cheddar is great by itself. Add in some fresh herbs and a few spices and a wonderful vinegar and oil dressing and you have a great appetizer. The peppers in our garden were ripe. I grabbed one and used it in this cheese instead of opening a jar of pimentos.

Also try my easy marinated mushrooms.

Marinated Cheese
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5 from 1 vote

Marinated Cheese

My wife told me that her sister was coming over to spend the night. No way was I gonna serve some something out-of-a-box. Nope. I had to pull out the big guns. No shortcuts. This marinated cheese was it. And truth be told, it was easy.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword cheese, marinated
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 12 hours
Total Time 12 hours 30 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 21kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

For the cheeses

  • 1 8 ounce sharp cheddar cheese block
  • 1 8 ounce cream cheese

For the marinade

Instructions

  • Unwrap the cheeses and place on a plate in the freezer for 15-30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, combine all of the marinade ingredients and whisk well.
  • Cut both cheese blocks in half lengthwise.
  • Slice the cheeses into 1/4″ thick squares.
  • Place cheeses into a resealable container, standing them on edge (think dominoes).
  • Add the marinade.
  • Cover and refrigerate 8-12 hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 21kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 280mg | Potassium: 28mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 190IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Smoked Cheeses

I was so happy with how great these smoked cheeses tasted. I mean, they were fantastic. And definitely so much better than any so-called smoked cheese you buy in the store (which are usually flavored with a liquid smoke or chemical and not real wood smoke).

Smoked Cheeses

I made one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I’ve ever had with the smoked sharp cheddar and pepper jack cheeses. I served it with some of my smoked potato chips.

Grilled Smoked Cheese Sandwich with Smoked Chips

The smoked buffalo mozzarella made for the best pizzas I’ve had. It takes pizza to a whole new happy place.

Cold smoking can be a tricky endeavor. The key is to not get above 90 F. The cheese can of course melt if you get your temperatures too high. You also want to not over-smoke the cheese as too much smoke flavor can be a bad thing. The first time attempting it you might want to sample one of the cheeses every 5 or so minutes to see how much smoke flavor you have.

My cold smoke setup is easy: 4 lit charcoal briquettes topped with a piece of apple wood. Once the wood starts to smoke I put on the cheeses or whatever I am cold smoking. I monitor the temperature in the smoker closely, making any damper adjustments needed to maintain 90 F. It’s easier to do on a cloudy, cool day.

You can also use a smoke tube for this process.

Also try smoking Velveeta. It’s seriously crazy good stuff.

Cold Smoke Setup
Smoked Cheeses
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5 from 1 vote

Smoked Cheeses

I was so happy with how great these smoked cheeses tasted. I mean, they were fantastic. And definitely so much better than any so-called smoked cheese you buy in the store.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword cheese, smoked
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4 blocks
Calories 4kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

For cold smoking

  • 4 lit charcoal briquettes
  • 1 small chunk apple wood

For the smoked cheeses

  • 4 blocks cheese use your favorites. I used Tillamook sharp cheddar, Tillamook pepper jack, and a log of fresh buffalo mozzarella.

Instructions

For cold smoking

  • Place the 4 lit briquettes in the bottom of your smoker.
  • Add the wood chunk.
  • Once the wood is smoking, you can add the cheeses.

For the smoked cheeses

  • Place the cheeses onto a disposable grill topper or in a vegetable or fish basket.
  • Smoke 15 or so minutes until the desired smokiness is achieved. For us, 20 minutes was just perfect. Sample as you cook to find the amount of smoke you prefer.

Nutrition

Calories: 4kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Jose’s Party Cheese Dip

Looking for a seriously big batch of rich, creamy, a-bit-spicy-but-not-too-spicy cheese dip for the big game? Well, this is it. Courtesy of my old favorite margarita spot in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Jose’s Restaurant. Jose’s party cheese dip satisfies any crowd.

Joses Party Cheese Dip

This makes a really big batch of Jose’s party cheese dip. It’s not a super thick dip like the usual cheese dips you find (you could cut back on the cream and milk if you want a thicker dip, but I find this dip is perfect as it is). It’s very tasty, which just the right combination of spices. Perfect with warmed tortilla chips (I also thick this dip makes a great sauce for nachos, hot dogs, and just about anything).

Also try my chicken nacho dip.

Jose's Party Cheese Dip
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5 from 1 vote

Jose’s Party Cheese Dip

Looking for a seriously big batch of rich, creamy, a-bit-spicy-but-not-too-spicy cheese dip for the big game? Well, this is it.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword cheese, dip, southwestern
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 16
Calories 396kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Jose’s Restaurant

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter plus 2 teaspoons
  • ¼ cup white onion diced
  • 2 tablespoons garlic minced, plus 2 teaspoons
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 3 ¼ cup milk
  • 2 ½ pounds white cheese grated (you can substitute yellow shredded cheddar)
  • 1 4 ounce jalapeno peppers chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder hot is better!
  • Tortilla chips warmed, for serving

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a large pot.
  • Add onion and saute until starting to soften.
  • Add garlic and cook another 1 minute.
  • Add flour, stir and cook another 1 minute.
  • Add cream and milk. Bring to a low boil. Reduce heat to low.
  • Slowly add cheese, a small bit at a time, stirring constantly until melted. Do not add the cheese too quickly or the mixture will separate.
  • Add the remaining ingredients except chips and warm.
  • Serve with fresh hot tortilla chips. You can transfer the dip to a crockpot set on low for serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 396kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 792mg | Potassium: 117mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 882IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.