Ingredients (13)
- 5 ounces corn tortilla chips
- 1 pound small or medium pasta shells
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 12 ounces fresh Mexican chorizo, casings removed
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, small dice
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 5 cups whole milk
- 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about 2 cups)
- 8 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese (about 2 cups)
- 2 (4-ounce) cans chopped pickled jalapeños or green chiles, drained (about 1 cup)
This Tex-Mex twist on traditional macaroni and cheese is hearty and satisfying enough to be a main course—it’s like a loaded nacho plate in casserole form. Spicy Mexican chorizo is browned; tossed with pasta, green chiles or pickled jalapeños, and a creamy cheddar–Monterey Jack sauce; then baked with crushed tortilla chips on top for crunch. Pass around some hot sauce for an extra kick.
What to buy: Mexican chorizo (not to be confused with its Spanish counterpart) is a fresh pork sausage that must be cooked prior to eating. It can be mild or spicy, and is found at gourmet markets or online. If you can’t find Mexican chorizo, you can sub in any fresh, spicy sausage.
This recipe was featured as part of our 3 Surprising Twists on Standard Macaroni and Cheese.
Instructions
- 1Heat the oven to 400°F and arrange a rack in the middle.
- 2Bring a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, place the tortilla chips in a food processor fitted with a blade attachment and process into fine crumbs (you should have about 1 cup); set aside. (Alternatively, place the chips in a resealable plastic bag, press out the air, and seal the bag. Using a rolling pin, crush the chips into uniform fine crumbs.)
- 3Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions or until just al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse with cold water, making sure to stir the pasta while rinsing, until cooled and the shells are no longer sticking to each other; set aside in the colander.
- 4Dry the pot (no need to rinse), add 1 tablespoon of the butter, and place over medium-high heat until melted. Add the chorizo and cook, breaking up the meat into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a medium bowl; set aside.
- 5Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter. When the butter is melted, add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the flour, measured salt, mustard, and cayenne and cook, stirring occasionally, until the flour has darkened slightly in color, about 2 minutes.
- 6While whisking constantly, slowly add the milk to the flour mixture until evenly combined and smooth. (It will get very thick when you first add the milk, then thin out.) Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture comes to a simmer and thickens slightly, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- 7Add the cheeses and stir until completely melted and the sauce is smooth. Stir in the reserved pasta and chorizo and the jalapeños or green chiles and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is heated through and steaming, about 4 to 6 minutes. Taste and season with salt as needed.
- 8Transfer the mixture to a 13-by-9-inch baking dish and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle with the crushed chips and bake until bubbling around the edges, about 20 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
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