Get the App

Recipes

Find a Recipe Blue Ribbon Recipes Pinch It!™ Feed Browse All Recipes

Editorial

Food Bites & Articles Videos What is a Blue Ribbon? Meet the Test Kitchen

Community

Member Recipes Groups Sweepstakes Contests Shopping

macaroni and cheese with a twist

(3 ratings)
Gracie58 avatar
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Grace Pulley
@Gracie58
Gillette, WY

My youngest son and I have been enjoying preparing foods this week we don't often get to eat when the hubby/dad (he's a little picky) is home. Hubby/dad is away for training enjoying room service and lunches with the company big-wigs. He is truly missed and we cannot wait until he is home with us again. This mac and cheese has a nice flavor from the blend of sharp cheddar and pepper jack cheese and not much heat even with the Tabasco. Personally, I would have turned it up a couple more notches but I didn't want to set my son on fire. Adjust the heat to your taste and enjoy.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

We love the combination of cheese in this macaroni and cheese with a twist. Making the homemade creamy cheese sauce is easy to do. Adding pepper jack to the cheddar cheese gives the mac and cheese a bit of zing without too much spice. Bread crumbs on top add a buttery crunch. This recipe is comfort food or a filling side dish.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(3 ratings)
yield 4 serving(s)
prep time 20 Min
cook time 25 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For macaroni and cheese with a twist

  • 8 oz
    rotini pasta
  • 2 Tbsp
    corn starch
  • 1 tsp
    salt
  • 1/4 tsp
    pepper
  • 1/2 tsp
    dry mustard
  • 2 1/2 c
    milk
  • 2 Tbsp
    butter
  • 2 tsp
    Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 - 4 dash
    hot pepper sauce
  • 1 1/4 c
    shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 1/4 c
    shredded pepper jack cheese, divided
  • 1/2 c
    fresh bread crumbs

How To Make macaroni and cheese with a twist

  • Boil the rotini pasta.
    1
    Cook pasta in boiling salted water for 6 minutes.
  • Drain cooked pasta.
    2
    Drain and set aside.
  • Add corn starch, salt, pepper, and dry mustard to a saucepan.
    3
    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium saucepan, combine corn starch, salt, pepper, and dry mustard.
  • Stir in milk until smooth.
    4
    Stir in milk until smooth.
  • Add butter, Worcestershire sauce, and hot pepper sauce.
    5
    Add butter, Worcestershire sauce, and hot pepper sauce.
  • Stir constantly and bring to a boil.
    6
    Stirring constantly and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 1 minute.
  • Stir in cheddar cheese and pepper jack cheese.
    7
    Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of sharp cheddar and 1 cup of pepper jack cheese.
  • Stir until the cheese is melted.
    8
    Stir until the cheese is melted.
  • Stir in macaroni.
    9
    Add macaroni and stir.
  • Pour macaroni into a sprayed baking dish.
    10
    Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with non-stick spray. Add the macaroni to the casserole dish.
  • Combine remaining cheese and bread crumbs in a small bowl.
    11
    Combine remaining cheeses and bread crumbs.
  • Sprinkle mixture on top of the macaroni and cheese.
    12
    Sprinkle on top of macaroni.
  • Bake until the top is golden brown.
    13
    Bake in 350 degree oven for 25 minutes or until lightly browned.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
ADVERTISEMENT