Queso Mac
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When I was pregnant, I often turned to comfort food when it was time to eat. For me, comfort food often involves cheese: grilled cheese sandwiches, cream cheese on a bagel, a bowl of queso dip, or maybe an entire box of macaroni and cheese.
It’s not like I didn’t know that a giant bowl of cheesy carbs wasn’t good for me. Sometimes you just gotta give baby what baby wants.
I shared a lot of my food habits with my friend Amber over Skype while I was pregnant, and I’ve continued to share the ups and downs of newborn life with her. She keeps me sane when the baby is having a bad day (or I’m having a bad day). I didn’t really have people to vent to when my first was a baby, and Amber’s friendship is priceless to me.
That’s why I can’t wait for her baby to be born in a few months. I just know our sons will be great friends. She and her husband James have been waiting a long time to meet their baby, and now we’re in the home stretch. I know from experience that the last month or two is the slowest time of your life, so luckily Amber will have plenty of recipes to cook through, thanks to her surprise shower!
We love you, Amber!
Since Amber is a Texan, we all made Texas-inspired dishes to share. The last time Amber and I hung out, we attacked a big bowl of queso from Torchy’s, so I figure she would appreciate this Rotel-ish macaroni and cheese. Plus, we’ve gotta get that baby’s taste buds ready for Tex-Mex!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces macaroni
- 1/4 cup diced onion
- 2 jalapeños, seeded and finely diced (leave the seeds in if you want it hotter)
- 1 large tomato, seeded and diced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
Instructions
- Cook macaroni according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, saute onion, jalapeño, and tomato together until onion and peppers are softened. Stir in the cumin, chili powder, and salt.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter, then whisk in the flour. Stir in the milk and cook until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and whisk in cheeses until completely melted and smooth.
- Once macaroni is done, drain, return to pot, and pour in the cheese sauce. Stir in the onion mixture. If desired, pour into an oven-safe dish or individual ramekins, top with crushed corn chips, and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. Or, just eat as is!
This looks amazing, Megan! Thanks for bringing your delicious queso mac along to Amber’s virtual shower!
Good lord yes, I need to get to know this mac and cheese.
Megan, your friendship has been priceless to me too. I can’t wait until we get back to Texas full time and can do this in person. And this mac? Perfection. Since you know James won’t touch cheesy sauces, I’m going to make this for me, and eat the entire thing. Like you said, I’ve got to get EJ’s taste buds ready! Thank you for celebrating him today, Megan. I can’t wait for him and M to be hanging out all the time.
This is so perfect!! My baby is 9 months old and I still crave cheesey carbs!! That might explain the lingering baby weight?
Perfection!
Love this! A bowl of cheesy carbs solves all the problems 🙂
This is a totally new to me dish – like most Texan food, I guess. One day I’ll just have to come down and have a culinary discovery experience.
Oooh… Queso Mac is absolutely perfect comfort food, pregnant or not! What a great dish for the baby shower… Thanks so much for joining in the fun!
I am a total mac & cheese fanatic, I think I will have to have this for supper tonight! What a wonderful addition to Amber’s Baby Shower!
Cheesy carbs do a pregnant body good! This recipe is perfect!
Oooooo…love this version of mac and cheese. Add cumin to most anything, and I’m in! So very happy for Amber!!
Oh how I need this in my life!! This sounds amazing. Holy moly, I’m all about mac and cheese and this version is calling my name. What a great addition to the baby shower for Amber.
You are speaking my language right now.
Also, I am glad I’m not the only person who has eaten an entire box of mac and cheese in one sitting. Pregnancy is fun like that.
This is exactly why I love ya. This is my kind of comfort food, too!
mac and cheese is the answer to everything!!! looks delicious!
I am loving the spice in this mac & cheese!
Megan: yum! My hubs and daughter love these tastes–and to combine them is perfect! Thank you! Also, Amber is just about one of the kindest people I know. I’m just thrilled that we could all celebrate her in this way! Also, hugs to your little one! Hopefully I will get to meet him someday!
I think we’re going to need to make this next all three of us are together. And if we make a double batch and refuse to share it with the boys, well, who’s gonna know but us? =)