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5 from 1 vote

Mexican Mac and Cheese

It’s my job to keep things interesting around here right? That’s why today is all about Spicy Mexican Mac and Cheese and it has a TORTILLA CHIP CRUST. Let’s get into it!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mexican, Tex Mex
Servings: 8 people
Author: Gaby Dalkin

Ingredients

  • 5 ounces TOSTITOS® tortilla chips crushed (¾ cup once crushed)
  • 1 pound medium pasta shells
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 1 small jalapeño finely diced
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt plus more as needed
  • 5 cups milk
  • ½ cup chipotle salsa
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1 4- oz can pickled jalapeños roughly chopped
  • 1 4- oz can green chiles roughly chopped
  • Fresh cilantro for garnish
  • Fresh green onions for garnish

Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 400°F. Bring a large heavy-bottomed pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cool water and set aside.
  • Dry the pot and add the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and jalapeño and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the flour and salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the flour has darkened slightly in color, about 2 minutes. While whisking constantly, slowly add the milk to the flour mixture until evenly combined and smooth. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture comes to a simmer and thickens slightly, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the salsa and cheeses and stir until completely melted and the sauce is smooth. Stir in the pasta, pickled jalapeños and green chiles and stir to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
  • Transfer the mixture to a 13-by-9-inch baking dish and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle with the crushed TOSTITOS® tortilla chips and bake until bubbling around the edges, about 20 minutes. Remove and let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with cilantro and green onions before serving.

Notes

Alter the spice level to your liking, and change out the cheese. Maybe even try lime tortilla chips!

Nutrition

Calories: 677kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 1820mg | Potassium: 558mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1300IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 649mg | Iron: 2mg