Chipotle Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese with Corn & Cotija Breadcrumbs
Fourth of July

Chipotle Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese

with Corn & Cotija Breadcrumbs

40 MIN
+$6.99/serving 2 Servings
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From the Test Kitchen

WHY WE LOVE THIS DISH
This decadent mac and cheese—made with creamy béchamel, smoked gouda, and monterey jack—gets a seasonal twist from bites of sweet corn, plus scallions and fresh jalapeño pepper. You'll top it with tender pulled pork simmered in a smoky chipotle-guajillo glaze, then a sprinkle of crunchy panko breadcrumbs (tossed with cotija cheese).
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  • Nutrition
    PER SERVING
  • Calories
    1440 Cals (est.)
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fresh
ingredients
Chipotle Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese with Corn & Cotija Breadcrumbs
Title
  • 10 oz Cooked Pulled Pork
  • 6 oz Cavatappi Pasta
  • 2 ears Corn
  • 1 Jalapeño Pepper
  • 2 Scallions
  • 2 oz Pickled Peppadew Peppers
  • ¼ cup Panko Breadcrumbs
  • 4 oz Shredded Cheddar & Monterey Jack Cheese Blend
  • 2 oz Smoked Gouda Cheese
  • ⅓ cup Béchamel Sauce
  • ¼ cup Cream
  • 2 tsps Chipotle Chile Paste
  • 3 Tbsps Pepper Sofrito
  • ⅓ cup Guajillo Chile Pepper Sauce
  • 1 Tbsp Light Brown Sugar
  • 1 oz Tomato Chipotle Flavored Butter
  • 2 Tbsps Grated Cotija Cheese
time-saving
tips & techniques
Prepare the ingredients & make the glaze
1 Prepare the ingredients & make the glaze

Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Thinly slice the scallions, separating the white bottoms and hollow green tops. Remove any husks and silks from the corn; cut the kernels off the cobs. Grate the gouda on the large side of a box grater. Roughly chop the pickled peppers. Cut off and discard the stem of the jalapeño pepper. Halve lengthwise; remove the ribs and seeds, then small dice. Thoroughly wash your hands immediately after handling. In a bowl, combine the guajillo sauce, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of water, and as much of the chile paste as you'd like, depending on how spicy you'd like the dish to be.

Cook the pasta
2 Cook the pasta

Add the pasta to the pot of boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, 7 to 9 minutes, or until al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Turn off the heat. Reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain thoroughly. Reserving the pot, transfer the pasta to a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and stir to coat.

Toast & finish the breadcrumbs
3 Toast & finish the breadcrumbs

Meanwhile, in a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat the butter on medium-high until melted. Add the breadcrumbs; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until toasted. Transfer to a bowl; add the cotija and stir to combine. Wipe out the pan.

Glaze the pork
4 Glaze the pork
In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the pulled pork. Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking the meat apart with a spoon, 1 to 2 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the glaze (carefully, as the liquid may splatter); season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until the pork is heated through and the liquid is slightly thickened. Turn off the heat.
Cook the vegetables
5 Cook the vegetables

In the reserved pot, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the corn kernels, sliced white bottoms of the scallions, chopped jalapeño pepper, and pepper sofrito; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened.

Finish & serve your dish
6 Finish & serve your dish

To the pot, add the béchamel, cream (shaking the packet before opening), and reserved pasta cooking water; season with salt and pepper. Cook on medium, whisking frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until combined and heated through. While whisking, working in batches, add the grated gouda and cheddar and monterey jack; season with salt and pepper. Cook, whisking constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until thoroughly combined and the cheese is melted. Add the cooked pasta. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the pasta is coated and the sauce is thickened. Turn off the heat. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the mac and cheese topped with the glazed pork, finished breadcrumbs, chopped pickled peppers, and sliced green tops of the scallions. Enjoy!

Tips from Home Chefs

Prepare the ingredients & make the glaze
1 Prepare the ingredients & make the glaze

Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Thinly slice the scallions, separating the white bottoms and hollow green tops. Remove any husks and silks from the corn; cut the kernels off the cobs. Grate the gouda on the large side of a box grater. Roughly chop the pickled peppers. Cut off and discard the stem of the jalapeño pepper. Halve lengthwise; remove the ribs and seeds, then small dice. Thoroughly wash your hands immediately after handling. In a bowl, combine the guajillo sauce, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of water, and as much of the chile paste as you'd like, depending on how spicy you'd like the dish to be.

2 Cook the pasta

Add the pasta to the pot of boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, 7 to 9 minutes, or until al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Turn off the heat. Reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain thoroughly. Reserving the pot, transfer the pasta to a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and stir to coat.

Cook the pasta
Toast & finish the breadcrumbs
3 Toast & finish the breadcrumbs

Meanwhile, in a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat the butter on medium-high until melted. Add the breadcrumbs; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until toasted. Transfer to a bowl; add the cotija and stir to combine. Wipe out the pan.

4 Glaze the pork
In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the pulled pork. Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking the meat apart with a spoon, 1 to 2 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the glaze (carefully, as the liquid may splatter); season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until the pork is heated through and the liquid is slightly thickened. Turn off the heat.
Glaze the pork
Cook the vegetables
5 Cook the vegetables

In the reserved pot, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the corn kernels, sliced white bottoms of the scallions, chopped jalapeño pepper, and pepper sofrito; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened.

6 Finish & serve your dish

To the pot, add the béchamel, cream (shaking the packet before opening), and reserved pasta cooking water; season with salt and pepper. Cook on medium, whisking frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until combined and heated through. While whisking, working in batches, add the grated gouda and cheddar and monterey jack; season with salt and pepper. Cook, whisking constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until thoroughly combined and the cheese is melted. Add the cooked pasta. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the pasta is coated and the sauce is thickened. Turn off the heat. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the mac and cheese topped with the glazed pork, finished breadcrumbs, chopped pickled peppers, and sliced green tops of the scallions. Enjoy!

Finish & serve your dish
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