I LOVE hot Cheetos. There, I said it. I know that they are unhealthy and can be dangerous when consumed in large quantities, but everything in moderation, right? I also happen to LOVE LOVE LOVE mac n’ cheese. Who doesn’t??! So pairing the two is like pairing Lucy and Ricky Ricardo together… okay maybe not the same, but you get where I’m going with this.

I received this recipe from a friend of a friend, but I modified it a bit to my liking *and hopefully yours.* First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9 x 12in pan. Next, as usual, let’s look at our lineup shall we…

6 tbsp butter
4 tbsp flour
2 c milk
1 c half and half
1 tsp salt
4 c cheddar cheese grated (I used mild)
Hot Cheetos to taste

Step One

Cook the noodles according to the package.

 

 

 

Step Two

In a medium or large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Then, whisk in the flour until it is browned.

Step Three

Pour in the milk, cream, and salt. Cook for 3 minutes, whisking constantly.

Step Four

Slowly add handfuls of cheese, stirring until each handful is melted before each new handful. Next, add in cooked and drained macaroni and coat it completely with the cheese sauce.

Step Five

Pour the mac n cheese into a buttered baking dish (I was visiting a friend so a foil pan was the only option)

Step Six

Bake for 25 minutes in the oven and add crushed Hot Cheetos on top!
I suggest adding them on a plate by plate basis or they will become stale in the oven/microwave/fridge.

I had seconds and I was not the only one, so this recipe is definitely… STUFFED APPROVED!

Photo Credit: Adrian Herrera

 

Are you a fan of mixing flavors when you cook/bake?

What is the best mac n’ cheese you have EVER had?