Lone Star Beef & Green Pepper Mac & Cheese
with a Crispy Panko Topping
- Wheat
- Milk
Mac and cheese just got a flavorful makeover that’s got heads turning. This Tex-Mex twist on a classic is all about Southwestern flair: lightly charred green pepper, roasted garlic, and four kinds of cheese add serious oomph to the creamy sauce. This super savory melange coats corkscrew cavatappi, then is sprinkled with a layer of crispy panko. Beautiful!
Ingredients
½ cup
Panko Breadcrumbs
(Contains: Wheat)
6 ounce
Cavatappi Pasta
(Contains: Wheat)
2 tablespoon
Cream Cheese
(Contains: Milk)
8 ounce
Cream Sauce Base
(Contains: Milk)
½ cup
Pepper Jack Cheese
(Contains: Milk)
1 unit
Long Green Pepper
1 clove
Garlic
¼ cup
Monterey Jack Cheese
(Contains: Milk)
1 tablespoon
Southwest Spice Blend
½ cup
Mexican Cheese Blend
(Contains: Milk)
Not included in your delivery
1 tablespoon (tbsp)
Butter
(Contains: Milk)
2 teaspoon (tsp)
Olive Oil
Nutrition Values
Utensils
Cooking Steps
• Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 425 degrees. Bring a medium pot (large pot for 4 servings) of salted water to a boil. Wash and dry produce. • Halve green pepper lengthwise; remove stem and seeds. Peel garlic and place on a small piece of foil; drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Cinch into a packet.
• Place green pepper halves, cut sides down, on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Place garlic foil packet on same sheet. • Roast on top rack until green pepper is tender and lightly blistered and garlic is softened, 15-17 minutes. • Remove from oven. Once cool enough to handle, transfer everything to a cutting board. Dice green pepper. Mash garlic with a fork. • Heat broiler to high or heat oven to 500 degrees.
• Once water is boiling, add cavatappi to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 9-11 minutes. • Reserve ¾ cup pasta cooking water, then drain. • Meanwhile, place 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4 servings) in a small microwave-safe bowl; microwave until melted, 30 seconds. Stir in panko and half the Southwest Spice Blend (you’ll use the rest later). Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat same pot over medium heat. Add cream sauce base, cream cheese, and remaining Southwest Spice Blend; bring to a simmer, whisking, until smooth, 1-2 minutes. • Reduce heat to low and whisk in pepper jack, Monterey Jack, and Mexican cheese blend until melted and smooth.
• Stir drained cavatappi, mashed garlic, and diced green pepper into pot with cheese sauce. If needed, stir in reserved pasta cooking water a splash at a time until cavatappi is coated in a creamy sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer mac & cheese to an 8-by-8-inch baking dish (for 4 servings, use a 9-by-13- inch baking dish). Sprinkle with seasoned panko; broil or bake until panko is browned and crispy, 2-3 minutes. TIP: Watch carefully to avoid burning. • Divide between plates or serve directly from baking dish.
Customer reviews
Review summary
Updated on Dec 2025- Flavor: Many loved the creamy, cheesy sauce with a Southwestern kick, though some found it bland or wanted more spice 🌶️.
- Ease of prep: Several noted it was easy to make, but a few felt it had too many steps for mac and cheese.
- Suggestions: Consider adding protein like chicken or ground beef; some enjoyed extra veggies like broccoli or tomatoes.
- Portions: Generous servings that often provided leftovers, though some felt it was more of a side dish than a full meal.
- Texture: Customers praised the crunchy panko topping and the way the sauce clung to the cavatappi pasta.
