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Homemade Mac and Cheese Sliders

Mac and Cheese Sliders  

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, macaroni and burgers go together like peanut butter and jelly. It’s basically the ultimate cheeseburger.

Mac and Cheese sliders

This macaroni is made with aged cheddar and gruyere, and then the slider is topped with even more cheddar, because you can never have too much cheese. The sliders definitely don’t need the bacon but it does add a nice crunch and a bit of texture. I also used Sriracha mayo for a bit of heat.

Mac and Cheese

The soft and gooey macaroni, the juicy burger, and the crispy bacon all work together to form the perfect bite. I kept it pretty simple but you could also add some other toppings. Jalapeños would work well if you wanted some extra heat.

A big part of what makes these sliders so good is the buns. I went with mini brioche buns. They are so buttery and really take things to the next level. If you can’t find these don’t worry, regular slider buns will still be alright.

The macaroni recipe will make more than you need for the sliders, so feel free to half it if you don’t want a lot of leftovers. I usually like to make a big batch and freeze the extra in individual portions. It actually freezes quite well and is perfect for a quick snack.

Mac and Cheese slider

If you’ve never tried macaroni on a burger, just trust me and give these sliders a try.

Mac and Cheese Sliders  

Ingredient

For the Macaroni

  • 1lb elbow macaroni noodles (1 box)
  • ½ up (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 6 tbsp all purpose flour
  • 4½ cups whole milk
  • 6 cups shredded cheese (half cheddar, half gruyere)
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp mustard powder
  • 1 tsp black pepper

For the Sliders

  • 1lb ground beef
  • 4 slices bacon
  • 2 slices cheddar cheese
  • 8 slider buns
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3 tbsp mayo
  • 1 tbsp Sriracha

Method

  1. Start by mixing the mayo with the Sriracha in a small bowl. Place in fridge until ready to build sliders.
  2. Preheat oven to 375°F. Place bacon on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and cook in oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
  3. To make the macaroni, start by cooking the noodles according to package directions – they typically take 5-7 minutes in boiling water. Set aside when ready. In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter and then add the flour. Constantly whisk until golden brown. Slowly pour in the milk while constantly whisking. Continue to stir until it comes to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and then stir occasionally until the sauce has thickened. Add the salt, pepper, and mustard powder.
  4. Add in the cheese in 3-4 batches stirring between each batch until the cheese is fully melted. Turn off the heat and add the cooked noodles to the pot, then stir to combine everything. At this point it may be a little wet but the sauce will continue to get thicker as it sits.
  5. Form the beef into 8 equal 2 oz sliders and season both sides well with salt and pepper. Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt the butter to fry the sliders. Cook for 1½ – 2 minutes per side for medium rare. Cut each slice of cheese into 4 equal squares and place them on the sliders after you flip them. In a separate skillet, melt the other half of the butter and toast the buns for about a minute or until golden brown.
  6. To build the sliders, spread a layer of Sriracha mayo on the bottom bun and then place on the patty. Top with half a slice of bacon and then spoon on the macaroni. Add the top bun and you’re good to go.

 

 

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Deep Fried Mac and Cheese Burger

Sometimes you need a big juicy cheeseburger.  Other times you need a warm bowl of macaroni & cheese.  But what about those times where what you really NEED is both.  Finally, a solution to one of life’s biggest dilemmas has been solved.  I present to you, the mac & cheeseburger.  It brings together two worlds of cheesy goodness into one delicious package.  Not to mention the addition of deep fried goodness; because everything is better deep fried.  Find out how to make it in the recipe below!

Deep fried mac and cheese

Ingredients:

  • Leftover mac ‘n cheese that has been refrigerated
  • flour
  • egg
  • panko bread crumbs
  • salt+pepper
  • vegetable oil for frying

Method:

  1. Form the leftover mac into balls (think meatballs) and freeze to firm up until ready to use
  2. Set up a breading station with 3 bowls. bowl 1 should contain flour, bowl 2 should contain beaten egg, and bowl 3 should contain the panko. season the flour and bread crumbs with salt+pepper and any additional spices of your preference such as cayenne.  You can also add some hot sauce to the egg mixture.
  3. One by one, put the frozen mac ‘n cheese balls into bowl 1,2,3 (in that order) ensuring it is completely coated at each stage
  4. Heat oil to 350 degrees and carefully drop in the breaded mac ‘n’ cheese balls. Cook for 5-6 minutes until golden brown. Remove the balls and drain excess oil

For the Burger

Ingredients:

  • Organic ground beef
  • Sliced cheddar cheese
  • Bun
  • Salt+pepper
  • Toppings – Lettuce, tomato, onion, jalapeños,
  • Sriracha mayo or sauce of your choosing
  • Deep fried mac ‘n’ cheese balls

Method:

  1. Form the ground beef into 1/2 pound patties by hand or using a burger press (make it bigger than you want it because it will shrink)
  2. Heat your pan (cast iron is ideal but anything should work) over medium-high heat and melt butter in it
  3. Generously season one side of the burger with salt and pepper (you’ll season the other side once it’s cooking)
  4. Place seasoned side down and make an indentation with your thumb in the middle to keep the burger from bulging
  5. Cook 3-4 minutes per side until pink and juicy on the inside. place a slice of cheese on top when its almost done.
  6. Toast and butter the bun while the burger is cooking

To assemble the burger, put sauce on the bottom bun and then place lettuce, tomato, and onion on it. Place the burger ontop of your toppings and top with jalapeños.  Take you’re fried mac ‘n cheese and put it on the burger (you can cut them in half to expose the inside or leave them whole). Squish everything down with the top bun and dig in!

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Mac & Cheese

Can you think of any food more comforting than big a bowl of mac & cheese?  I don’t think I can.  It really is the perfect comfort food. It’s warm, cheesy, crispy, and so satisfying.  It’s got it all going on.  It makes for a great lunch or a great dinner.  It can be made for casual and also for special occasions. I really don’t see why you’d ever need to eat anything else. And good news, it also couldn’t be simpler to make.  Whether you’re a first time cook or a chopped champion, I promise that you can do it.  Just follow the recipe below!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 box elbow macaroni noodles (half a pound)
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 2.5 cups whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 cups of cheese (2 cups cheddar, 1 cup Monterey Jack, 1 cup Gruyere)*

 

Method:

  1. preheat oven to 400 degrees
  2. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside
  3. Melt butter in a medium saucepan, add flour and whisk to combine
  4. Pour milk into saucepan and continue to whisk until the sauce thickens
  5. Slowly add 3 cups of cheese to the pan and mix until the sauce has reached a smooth consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
  6. Put the noodles into a lightly greased cast iron pan or oven safe dish, pour the sauce over and combine.
  7. Top the noodles with remaining cheese and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and delicious
  8. Enjoy!

*if these cheeses don’t sit well with you, feel free to swap it for your favourite kind. Just be sure to use the same amount.