We’re not talking about not personal computers here. P.C. is a common abbreviation for pimento cheese – the classic sandwich filling that is so beloved across the South (and beyond). In this P.C. Mac & Cheese we’re using this tasty cheese to enhance macaroni & cheese for a flavor-packed pasta. It’s so good it can be the main dish, but it also makes a stunning side dish for heartier meals. This warm and gooey mac & cheese takes those cold sandwiches into a new realm fit for even the most avid Southern food aficionado.

Like any good mac & cheese you’ll want to start with your favorite pasta and cook it only to al dente. This keeps it from getting too mushy in the oven once it’s surrounded by that rich and creamy sauce.

This sauce is made from the usual suspects of milk and spices, but the cheeses we’re using here are Colby Jack and the previously-mentioned pimento cheese. You can use store bought pimento cheese or make your own. We’ve got a recipe here for a great pimento cheese if you want to make it yourself.

The pimento refers to peppers and for the uninitiated you should know that these peppers are technically chili peppers, but they aren’t spicy. The peppers used for pimento cheese are only slightly spicier than bell peppers, so fear not if you don’t love the sound of pepper cheese and don’t do spicy foods. Combined with the creamy cheese there is only a mild pepper flavor and zero heat.

A bit of the the Colby cheese is mixed into the sauce, but the remainder is sprinkled over the pasta to create a wonderfully melted top that gets just a little brown around the corners.

Creamy, savory, rich, with just a little hint of pepper from the pimento, this P.C. Mac & Cheese is a tasty take on the Southern classic. From sandwich to pasta, this recipe takes pimento cheese to new heights of flavor.