Chipotle Mac and Cheese
Another day, another absolute cheesefest of goodness. That’s right folks, it’s that time again where I take a perfectly acceptable meal (mac and cheese) and turn it into something completely uncalled for, but quite frankly something you’ll never live without again. This week’s star ingredient – the humble chipotle chilli. Cheese and spice go together like a match made in heaven. Chipotle not only offers the spice component, but also adds a huge amount of gorgeous smoky flavour too. For this recipe we’ll be using chipotle paste, which you’ll find in most mainstream supermarkets/grocery stores.
Can I use chipotle powder instead?
Sure! I find the paste tends to give you a deeper, richer flavour, but powder will sub just fine.
Smoky Mac and Cheese
This mac and cheese is spicy, but like I mentioned ealier it has a gorgeous smoky twang too. Here’s where the smokiness comes from:
Chipotle Paste Smoked Paprika Smoked Bacon
You could also use smoked cheese too, but I find the smokiness from the above 3 ingredients to be sufficient. There’s a fine line between ‘smoky’ and ‘this tastes like a cigar’… But hey, some people like cigars! 🤣 Anywho, let’s talk bacon i.e the back bone of this blog and everything involved with it. You’ll want to start off by frying the bacon (photo 1) and rendering out as much fat as possible. The fat will not only add flavour, but help start the roux when the flour is mixed in. Also draining away bacon fat is a chargeable offence in most circumstances. I don’t make the rules. Once you’ve rendered the fat (photo 2), melt in butter (step 3) and stir in flour (photo 4) until a paste forms (photo 5) then gradually pour in milk (photo 6).
Alongside the smoked paprika and chipotle paste, I like to add onion and garlic powder to this mac and cheese, as I do in nearly all my mac and cheese recipes. You know, just for that little something something. In terms of what cheese to use I’ve kept it fairly simple here with a combo of cheddar and mozzarella. I did test this recipe with a few different cheese varieties, but it all gets a bit much with the chipotle trying to shine through past the intense cheesy flavour. Keep it simple. Once you’ve stirred in the seasoning (photos 7 & 8), turn off the heat and stir in your cheese (photo 9) then add in your macaroni (photo 10).
Baked Mac and Cheese
From there it’s just a case of plonking it all in a baking dish, topping with breadcrumbs and throwing in the oven like a rugby ball (jokes please don’t do that). I recommend using Panko breadcrumbs (Japanese breadcrumbs) as they are larger and lighter compared to regular breadcrumbs (i.e EXTRA cripsy.) Because really, a mac and cheese ain’t a mac and cheese unless it’s baked. Again, I don’t make the rules.
One that golden bubbly goodness is out the oven, waste no time in tucking in! This mac and cheese is hearty enough to hold it’s own as a main dish by itself, but if I’m serving it as a side I usually add a portion of crispy baked chicken tenders (or deep fried spicy chicken tenders 😈) If you’re looking for similar recipes to this then check out full collection of mac and cheese recipes!
Mac and Cheese Variations
Brie Mac and Cheese Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Roasted Garlic Mac and Cheese Spicy Jalapeño Mac and Cheese Gnocchi Mac and Cheese
Alrighty, let’s tuck into the full recipe for this chipotle mac and cheese shall we?!
How to make Chipotle Mac and Cheese (Full Recipe & Video)
Got leftovers? Check out my Mini Leftover Mac and Cheese Quesadillas!
If you loved the Mac and Cheese recipe then be sure to pin it for later! Already made it or got a question? Give me a shout in the comments and pick up your free ecookbook on the way!
