Are you prepared to vary up your traditional mac and cheese recipe? In that case, this creamy King Ranch Mac and Cheese recipe with rooster is the proper approach to do this!
Why You’ll Love My Simple King Ranch Mac and Cheese with Rooster
The Good Tex-Mex Mac and Cheese! When you’re a fan of Tex-Mex recipes, you’re going to LOVE this macaroni and cheese. Impressed by King Ranch rooster casserole, King Ranch Mac and Cheese with rooster will blow your thoughts. It’s tacky, it’s creamy, and oh so satisfying.
Make It Forward! This dinner concept is ideal to make forward and freeze. Which additionally means it’s a REALLY standard dish, identical to my King Ranch Casserole recipe, to make to new mothers, or for anybody in want of a dinner.
Taste! This do-it-yourself mac and cheese is filled with rooster, peppers, diced tomatoes, two sorts of melty cheese, and extra. It’s a recipe that can shock you at how simple it’s and the way delcious!
What’s King Ranch Rooster?
King Ranch rooster is a Texas-inspired recipe that’s cooked within the type of a casserole. It’s made up of cooked rooster, tortillas, gooey cheese, creamy gravy, peppers, and many others. Nonetheless, whereas I like casserole, why not take factor and make it even higher by combining it with mac and cheese? So, that’s what we’re gonna do.
Recipe Elements
This King Ranch mac and cheese recipe has a few extra components than your typical mac and cheese does:
Pasta: I used cavatappi, however you’ll be able to substitute with one other pasta (one thing like rigatoni or elbow macaroni).
Butter: Salted or unsalted – whichever you like.
Onion: You’ll want 1 medium yellow onion, diced.
Pepper: I used a medium inexperienced bell pepper and a medium pink bell pepper (each seeded and diced).
Garlic: Minced.
Diced Tomatoes: With inexperienced chilis, 1 (10- ounce) can.
Ready Cheese: Cubed – one thing like Velveeta.
Bitter Cream: So as to add additional creaminess.
Half and Half: A combination of milk and cream might work too should you don’t have any half and half.
Seasoning: I used cumin and cayenne pepper.
Cooked Rooster: I like to make use of shredded Rotisserie Rooster.
Cheese: Grated cheddar cheese is greatest.
The right way to Make King Ranch Mac and Cheese with Rooster
Mac and cheese is one in every of my favourite weeknight dinners to make. Can one ever get sufficient tacky pasta? (The proper reply: Nope!) There are primarily six components to creating this meal:
Add diced onion and diced bell peppers to a big skillet and cook dinner in melted butter till they’re tender.Cook dinner the pepper and onions till they’re tender after which add in some garlic.
Preheat Oven to 400°F: Then boil the pasta in line with the bundle instructions and drain.
Sauté the Onion & Bell Peppers: Whereas the pasta is boiling, warmth a big skillet over medium warmth. Soften the butter within the skillet and sauté the onion and each bell peppers for 7- 8 minutes, till they’re tender. Add within the garlic and cook dinner for yet one more minute.
Add diced tomatoes into the peppers and onions and cook dinner till they liquid has evaporated. Subsequent soften within the cubed cheese.
Mix with Tomatoes & Cheese: Add the diced tomatoes and cook dinner till nearly all the liquid has evaporated, 3- 4 minutes. Subsequent incorporate the cubed cheese into the combination and stir constantly till the cheese is melted.
This tacky combination is the bottom of your sauce.Add in bitter cream, half and half, and seasonings into the cheese sauce. Then add in cooked rooster.
Add Dairy & Rooster: Combine the bitter cream and half and half into the cheese combination, season with cumin and cayenne pepper and at last add within the rooster.
Stir it till it’s all mixed. Add within the cooked pasta and prime with grated cheese and bake!
Mix Pasta & Rooster Combination: In a 3- quart Dutch oven or baking dish mix the rooster/cheese combination with the cooked pasta evenly.
TIP: In case your skillet that you simply began with is giant sufficient and oven secure, no have to switch the combination into a bigger pan.
Add Grated Cheese & Bake: Sprinkle with the grated cheese and bake for 5- 10 minutes till the cheese is melted and the combination is bubbly. Serve instantly.
What Form of Cheese to Use
You’ll want two completely different sorts of cheese to make this mac and cheese. For the pasteurized ready cheese I normally use Velveeta, however you possibly can attempt Kraft as a substitute. As for the grated cheese that you simply sprinkle on prime, I usually stick with cheddar, however Monterey Jack might additionally work.
Variation Concepts
Are there different additions that may be made to this mac and cheese? In fact! Listed below are just a few concepts:
Prime with Breadcrumbs: Or crushed tortilla chips – one thing that can add additional crunch to every chew.
Regulate the Warmth: When you like your mac and cheese on the spicier facet you possibly can add in a bit chili powder.
Different Add-Ins: Extra peppers (like jalapeños) might be good, or you possibly can toss in bacon bits, as a result of they make the whole lot higher!
Serving Options
When you’re attempting to think about issues to serve with King Ranch mac and cheese, listed below are a few my go-to choices:
Salad: A giant inexperienced salad all the time goes effectively with this meal. I additionally love this Rainbow Crunch Salad with this recipe, the crunchiness contrasts splendidly with the creamy pasta.
Greens: Sautéed mushrooms, broccoli, inexperienced beans, and many others. Whichever veggies are your favourite! I like this easy air fryer asparagus as a result of it’s prepared in minutes.
Garlic Bread: When you don’t thoughts just a few additional carbs, these Garlic Knots are an important facet to include into this dinner! This cheesy stuffed garlic bread can be unbelievable with King Ranch mac & cheese.
The right way to Retailer and Reheat King Ranch Mac and Cheese
You may retailer this mac and cheese in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
Whenever you wish to reheat the leftovers I like to recommend placing them again within the oven – uncovered – for 20 or so minutes till the specified temperature is reached.
Can I Freeze Leftover Mac and Cheese with Rooster?
Positively! You may freeze leftovers in an hermetic container for 1-2 months. Bear in mind to let the container thaw within the fridge in a single day earlier than consuming the pasta once more.
Bored with your common mac and cheese recipe? Then flip up the warmth a bit and do this King Ranch Mac and Cheese, filled with Rotisserie rooster, grated cheddar cheese, bell peppers, creamy pasta, and extra!
8 ounces cavatappi pasta
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
1/2 medium inexperienced bell pepper. seeded and diced
1/2 medium pink bell pepper, seeded and diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (10- ounce) can diced tomatoes with inexperienced chilis
4 cups cooked rooster (I like to make use of shredded Rotisserie Rooster)
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 400°F
Boil the pasta in line with the bundle instructions and drain.
Whereas the pasta is boiling warmth a big skillet over medium warmth. Soften the butter within the skillet and sauté the onion and each bell peppers for 7- 8 minutes, till they’re tender. Add within the garlic and cook dinner for yet one more minute.
Add the diced tomatoes and cook dinner till nearly all the liquid has evaporated, 3- 4 minutes. Subsequent incorporate the cubed cheese into the combination and stir constantly till the cheese is melted.
Combine the bitter cream and half and half into the cheese combination, season with cumin and cayenne pepper and at last add within the rooster.
In a 3- quart Dutch oven or baking dish mix the rooster/cheese combination with the cooked pasta evenly.
Sprinkle with the grated cheese and bake for 5- 10 minutes till the cheese is melted and the combination is bubbly.
