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Pimento Macaroni and Cheese
Pimento Macaroni and Cheese is an easy skillet mac with the flavors of pimento cheese. If you're a pimento cheese lover, it'll be your new favorite dinner!
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 552 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 10 ounces cavatappi pasta or elbow mac, or rotini
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup cream
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (yellow or white), shredded
- 1/2 cup finely chopped pimentos (I used a 5 ounce jar of whole pimentos)
Crumb topping
- 1/2 cup Ritz cracker crumbs
- 2 Tbsp butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F and lightly butter a 10-inch cast iron skillet.
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of heavily salted boiling water until al dente (about 8 minutes). Drain and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a medium heavy bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, paprika, and salt. Cook for a couple of minutes over medium heat, whisking constantly.
- While whisking, add the milk and cream slowly to avoid lumps. Whisk or stir with a silicone spoonula until all the milk and cream are incorporated. Keep cooking, stirring constantly, until the mixture ALMOST comes to a boil, and thickens. Do not let it boil.
- Remove the pan from the heat (this is important) and let it cool for a minute or two.
- Add the shredded cheese to the pot, stirring until the cheese has completely melted. This may take a few minutes. If necessary you can put the pot back on the stove to gently heat until the cheese melts.
- Stir in the pimentos and cooked pasta and turn into your buttered skillet.
- Mix the cracker crumbs with the melted butter until the crumbs are evenly saturated.
- Top with the crumb mixture, and bake for about 25 minutes, or until bubbling and golden.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Serving
1serving
Calories
552kcal
(28%)
Carbohydrates
47g
(16%)
Protein
19g
(38%)
Fat
32g
(49%)
Saturated Fat
19g
(95%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
8g
Trans Fat
0.4g
Cholesterol
90mg
(30%)
Sodium
587mg
(24%)
Potassium
328mg
(9%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
7g
(14%)
Vitamin A
1706IU
(34%)
Vitamin C
17mg
(19%)
Calcium
403mg
(40%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 552
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 552kcal | 28% |
| Carbohydrates | 47g | 16% |
| Protein | 19g | 38% |
| Fat | 32g | 49% |
| Saturated Fat | 19g | 95% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Trans Fat | 0.4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 90mg | 30% |
| Sodium | 587mg | 24% |
| Potassium | 328mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 1706IU | 34% |
| Vitamin C | 17mg | 19% |
| Calcium | 403mg | 40% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.