Spicy Pizza Mac & Cheese
It is like pizza without the crust. Your favorite pizza toppings in a creamy mac & cheese, win win! On my to cook list!
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 350 grams dry pasta, spiral pasta would be great in this
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 3 plum tomatoes, diced
- sliced ham, diced, optional
- bacon, cooked, diced, optional
- 1/4 black olives, sliced
For the Sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 teaspoons garlic, smashed and minced
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 2 3/4 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, OR regular yogurt
- 2/3 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
- 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Cook pasta in boiling water until tender, drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 180 C and lightly grease with butter, a state of Kansas baking dish (9x13 inches).
- In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Cook onion, all the bell pepper for 2 minutes, add tomatoes and continue to cook until onion and peppers are crisp and tender and liquid from the tomatoes has thickened and mostly evaporated, about 5 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove vegetables from pan and set aside, drain out the oil.
- In same pan, melt butter over medium heat. Sprinkle in garlic and flour and cook, whisking often until flour is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Gradually pour in milk, whisking constantly. Cook until sauce thickens, about 6-7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in red pepper flakes, salt and oregano. Stir in Greek yogurt, mozzarella, add drained pasta and vegetables, stir to coat.
- Roughly chop 2/3 of the ham, and or bacon, stir into pasta mixture, reserving remaining ham/bacon. Spoon pasta into prepared baking dish, then scatter olives and remaining ham/bacon over top. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake until hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Let rest a few minutes before serving.
Notes
Minimal amounts really for all ingredients, I will put this at $1 per serving for 8 servings. When I make this, then I will give a better price range.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
A ‘must try’ for me 😀