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–+ servings
Close-up of mac and cheese.
Tara Noland

Pimento Cheese Mac and Cheese Recipe

Creamy, cheesy macaroni blended with rich, tangy pimento cheese, featuring sharp cheddar, sweet pimentos, and a hint of Southern comfort in every bite. Perfect for a meal any night of the week.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Course: dinner, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 614
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb 450 g macaroni or shells
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 2 ½ cups whole milk
  • 4 oz 115 g cream cheese, softened
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
  • 8 oz 225 g sharp orange cheddar, grated
  • 4 oz 115 g extra sharp white cheddar, grated
  • 1 jar roasted red peppers about 12 oz / 340 g, drained well and finely chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
Optional crunchy topping
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ cup grated cheddar

Method
 

  1. Heat oven to 400°F / 200°C if baking.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until just shy of al dente. Drain.
  3. Meanwhile, drain the roasted red peppers and finely chop. Excess moisture can make the sauce unpleasantly loose.
  4. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for about 1 minute until the raw flour smell has disappeared.
  5. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Simmer gently until slightly thickened, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  6. Lower the heat and whisk in the softened cream cheese, Dijon, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne.
  7. Add the cheddar cheeses a handful at a time, stirring until melted and smooth.
  8. Fold in the chopped roasted peppers. Taste and season with salt and plenty of black pepper.
  9. Stir in the cooked pasta.
  10. For stovetop mac and cheese, serve immediately.
  11. For baked mac and cheese, transfer to a buttered baking dish.
  12. Mix the topping ingredients together and scatter over the top. Bake 15 to 20 minutes until bubbling and browned at the edges.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 614kcalCarbohydrates: 56gProtein: 24gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 92mgSodium: 590mgPotassium: 335mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1173IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 490mgIron: 1mg

Notes

See the post for more information, photos and tips. 

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