Best Grilled Pimento Mac N Cheese Recipes

ROBIN KOURY'S GRILLED MAC-N-CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat grill to 350 degrees F.
• Quarter red and green pepper, then place them on the grill, cooking until tender. Once grill marks are formed, remove peppers from grill and set aside. Boil elbow macaroni in salted boiling water until al dente - drain and set aside. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and then whisk in flour to thicken, about 1 minute. Add 1 cup milk and whisk in. Begin adding cheeses 1 at a time, thoroughly whisking each cheese. If sauce becomes too thick, add remaining cup of milk. Once all cheeses are blended add salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, grilled peppers, jalapeno pepper and stir to combine. Add elbows to mixture and stir again. Once combined well, add to a cast iron 9 by 13-inch rectangle casserole dish, and sprinkle top with bread crumbs and an additional 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Place on grill for 12 minutes. Let stand a few minutes before serving.

GRILLED PIMIENTO CHEESE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Spread both sides of bread slices with butter. In a large skillet, toast bread on 1 side, over medium heat until golden brown, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat; place toasted-side up. Spread cheese over toasted bread slices. Top 2 slices with jelly, then with bacon. Top with remaining bread slices, cheese facing inward. Cook until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted, 3-4 minutes on each side. If desired, serve with additional jelly.

GRILLED MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Set up an outdoor grill for indirect cooking over medium heat. For charcoal, use coals on one side of the grill. For gas, shut off one side of the grill.
• Place an 8-quart cast iron Dutch oven over the hot side of the grill. Add bacon; cook and stir until it renders its fat, but doesn't crisp up, 5 to 7 minutes. Add onions and garlic; move the Dutch oven so only about half of the pot is over the heat. Cook and stir until onions start to become translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour in milk and cook until hot, but not simmering. Melt in cream cheese.
• Stir in about a handful of Cheddar cheese at a time until 3 cups have been melted into the mixture. Move the Dutch oven to the cooler side of the grill. Stir in cooked macaroni. Crumble the cheese crackers over the top. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup Cheddar cheese.
• Close the lid of the grill and let cook until bubbly and reduced, about 40 minutes, rotating the Dutch oven every 5 minutes or so to keep from burning. Remove from heat and serve.

GRILLED PIMENTO CHEESE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• For the pimento cheese: Combine the cream cheese and mayonnaise in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the Cheddar and Gouda and mix to combine on low, about 1 minute. Stir in the roasted red peppers by hand. Taste and season with salt and pepper, but go heavy on the pepper; start with 1/2 teaspoon and go from there.
• For the sandwiches: On low heat, warm a cast-iron skillet. Put a heaping 1/2 cup of the pimento cheese between 2 slices of bread. Don't spread the mixture all the way to the crust because it will soften and spread as it heats in the skillet. Repeat with the remaining bread and cheese.
• Smear one side of each sandwich with mayonnaise, and place the sandwiches in the skillet mayonnaise-side down. Smear the top pieces of bread with mayonnaise. Cook until golden brown and the cheese has just started to melt, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook the other side until golden, another 3 minutes. Slice into halves or quarters and serve immediately.
• Reserve any remaining pimento cheese in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

PIMENTO MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with butter. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain, rinse under cold water and drain again.
• Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the panko and cook, stirring often, until golden and toasted, 3 to 5 minutes. Immediately remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• Melt remaining 8 tablespoons butter in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic and jalapeño and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add flour and paprika, stir well, and cook until vegetables are coated, about 1 minute.
• While whisking, carefully stream in the milk until smooth and incorporated. Bring to a simmer while continuing to whisk. Simmer, whisking often, until thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add the Cheddar cheese, cream cheese and pimentos, and stir until the cheese is completely melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Add cooked pasta and stir to coat. Transfer to the baking dish and spread evenly. Evenly sprinkle the toasted panko on top. Bake until golden and bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then serve.

GRILLED PIMENTO CHEESE SANDWICH

Steps:

• Pulse the cheese, mayo, pimentos and cayenne in the food processor until just combined. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours.
• Spread some additional mayo on 1 side of each slice of toasted bread. Arrange 6 slices, mayo-side down, on a clean work surface. Place 2 heaping tablespoons pimento cheese evenly on the 6 slices of bread and top with the remaining 6 slices of bread, mayo-side facing up.
• In a large nonstick skillet over moderate heat, cook 3 sandwiches until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is starting to melt, about 3 minutes. Turn the sandwiches over and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes more. Wipe the pan clean and repeat with the remaining 3 sandwiches.
• What To Toss In: If you like your pimento really spicy, you can always add some chipotle in adobe sauce to give it a smoky flavor. This can also be used as an entertaining dip. Just arrange some baby carrots and cut up some celery sticks around the cheese. People will flock to it.

PIMENTO CHEESE MACARONI SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted boiling water to a rolling boil. Add the macaroni and cook until al dente, about 1 minute less than package directions suggest.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix the cream cheese, mayonnaise, pimento peppers, Cheddar, chives, smoked paprika, garlic, hot sauce and a pinch of salt and black pepper together until thoroughly combined.
• Transfer the cooked macaroni directly to the large bowl with the cheese mixture and mix until everything is thoroughly combined. Fold in the red bell pepper and garnish with more smoked paprika. Serve immediately or chill in the fridge until ready to serve.