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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.
P.C. Mac & Cheese
Yield(s): Serves 8-10
15m prep time
33m cook time
384 calories
Diet: Vegetarian
you're making mealtime meaningful.
Ingredients
- 10 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
- 11 oz (1 ¼ cups) pimento cheese
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese, divided
Preparation
- Cook pasta to al dente then drain. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 375˚F. Melt butter in small saucepan over medium low heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes or until browned and bubbling. Whisk in milk ½ cup at a time, removing lumps as you go. Remover from heat and stir in spices, pimento cheese, and 1 cup Colby Jack cheese.
- 9x13 pan stir together cheese mixture and pasta. Top with remaining Colby Jack and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown around the edges.
Recipe adapted from Cooking and Cussing.