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.
Just A Kiss Of Heat
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. Don’t worry about adding hot sauce to your mac-and-cheese. You don’t have to add much. But I recommend that you don’t leave it out. It’s that subtle taste that makes a big difference!
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
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!
A Bit Of Everything In One Bowl
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!
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. Just make a batch of your favorite recipe and turn it into instant greatness!
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. Good and firm and not runny. You don’t want to close your waffle maker only to watch all that cheese greatness run out the sides and onto your countertop.
Remember as you make these that non-stick spray is your friend. It definitely makes for easier clean-up.
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.
I’m always on the lookout for a new salad, specially if it has macaroni in it. This three bean macaroni salad is somewhat similar to our popular peas and pasta salad. It has a nice creamy dressing and a nice crunch thanks to onion and bell pepper. The addition of dill really makes the dressing even better. And oh, the dressing. Delicious.
Cheese Is Optional
I can see adding cubed pepper jack cheese to this three bean macaroni salad to really take it over the top. So I included it in the recipe, though I didn’t make it with the cheese. I trust my judgement on this one.
I almost always use Blue Plate mayonnaise in the dishes I make. I think it is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.
I’m always on the lookout for a new salad, specially if it has macaroni in it. This three bean macaroni salad is somewhat similar to our popular peas and pasta salad in that it has a nice creamy dressing and a nice crunch thanks to onion and bell pepper. The addition of dill really makes the dressing even better.
The key to this fantastic macaroni salad is the tang of the Blue Plate mayonnaise. Regular mayonnaise just won’t give you that kick. If you cannot find Blue Plate in your area, mix a little fresh lemon juice and Dijon mustard into your usual mayonnaise. It’ll be more like Blue Plate, but nothing, absolutely nothing, is the same as Blue Plate.
This macaroni salad really reminds me of a traditional egg salad. Creamy, and crunchy. Well, and it does have eggs in it too.
I almost always use Blue Plate mayonnaise in the dishes I make. I think it is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.
These macaroni-and-cheese muffins would be great for a family gathering. They’re easy to make and taste fantastically cheesy! You can make a big, huge batch of them in no time. It might keep Uncle Henry from snagging all of the mac-and-cheese out of a dish. It’s a lot more obvious that you’re hogging them all when you have to stack 10 of these little round morsels onto your plate.
Pop-In-Your-Mouth Goodness
Macaroni-and-cheese muffins are rather fun to eat too, just like my mac-and-cheese waffles. You can use your favorite mac-and-cheese recipe instead, if you like. Just watch the cook time because you might have to adjust it a bit. You want the macaroni to set up good in the tins.
These macaroni-and-cheese muffins would be great for a family gathering. They’re easy to make and taste fantastically cheesy! You can make a big, huge batch of them in no time.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword mac and cheese, macaroni and cheese, muffins
