Cowboy Mac and Cheese

Creamy, cheesy Cowboy Mac and Cheese gets a bold twist with hearty additions like seasoned meat, tomatoes, jalapeños, corn, beans, and onions. It’s rich, flavorful, and just the right amount of spice! The heat is warm but not overwhelming. If you like it spicy, add more jalapeños!

Grown-Up Mac & Cheese

Because sometimes you want a good mac and cheese! You’re an adult now, so you don’t have to settle for boxed Kraft Mac N Cheese. This cowboy Mac and cheese has a decent helping of vegetables and protein, so you can feel good about this being a pretty well-rounded meal, even if it has a lot of tasty cheese.

How to Make Cowboy Mac and Cheese

Let’s get cooking! Making this cowboy Mac and cheese recipe is simple and it comes together with little effort. You’ll start by cooking the pasta until perfectly tender, then prepare the hearty meat and veggie mixture that gives this dish its signature flavor. Finally, everything gets combined with a rich and creamy cheese sauce for a meal that’s absolutely irresistible.

• Cook Pasta, Beef, Onion, and Jalapeños: Boil the elbow macaroni according to the package directions until al dente, drain, and set aside. In a large oven-safe skillet, brown ground beef, onion, and diced jalapeño over medium-high heat until the beef is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Drain any grease off and return the skillet to heat.
• Start the Sauce: Add the unsalted butter to the skillet and stir to melt. Whisk in the all-purpose flour to create a thick paste.
• Stir in Milk and Add-Ins: Slowly whisk in the whole milk, diced tomatoes with green chilies, black beans, and corn. Continue to stir and cook until heated through, 2-3 minutes.
• Mix in Cheese and Seasonings: Add the shredded cheddar cheese, shredded pepper jack cheese, chili powder, salt, and pepper to the skillet, reduce to medium heat, stir, and cook until the cheese is melted in and everything is mixed well.
• Add Pasta: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, stir to combine, and cook for a few minutes to allow the noodles to soak up some of the cheese sauce. Preheat the oven to broil on HIGH.
• Broil: Top the mac and cheese with shredded cheddar cheese. Broil on HIGH for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is just golden and bubbly. Remove and enjoy!

Customize Your Cowboy Mac and Cheese

There are plenty of ways to make this cowboy Mac and cheese your own! Whether you want to turn up the heat or swap out the cheese for a different variety, there are lots of simple tweaks you can make.

• Spice it up! Add more heat to this mac and cheese by adding additional diced jalapeños and/or chili powder, ½ teaspoon at a time.
• Can I switch up the cheese? You can use your favorite cheeses for this mac. I like the slight heat and flavor you get from the cheddar and pepper jack combination. 
• Can I use a different pasta? I like classic elbow macaroni for my mac and cheese, but shells or bowties would also be great pasta to use!
• Do I have to use whole milk? I recommend whole milk, but you can use any percentage of milk. If you use less than whole-fat milk, it will result in less rich cheese sauce.

How to Store Leftovers Cowboy Mac & Cheese

This cowboy mac and cheese tastes fantastic the next day for lunch! Here is the best way to store it for later!

• In the Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. 
• In the Freezer: Freeze leftovers in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.