Southwest Mac and Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Get ready for a flavor-packed game day with our Southwest Mac & Grilled Cheese Sandwich! This culinary creation takes the classic grilled cheese to new heights, combining the bold flavors of the Southwest with the comfort of a grilled cheese sandwich. It's a taste sensation that'll elevate your game day experience!

Blend sour cream, barbecue sauce, jalapeños, green onion, salt, pepper, cumin and garlic until they all come together. Add the macaroni and toss it all together. This is the Southwest twist that will add excitement to your game day menu.

As the Texas Toast takes a quick 4-minute spin in the oven, the kitchen fills with the aroma of toasting bread. This sets the perfect foundation for what's to come.

Enter the cheese duo – cheddar and pepper jack. Each slice of Texas Toast gets a cheesy partner in crime. Four slices receive a generous ¼ cup of the macaroni mixture, adding a layer of flavor that's both comforting and exciting.

It's time to bring it all together. The remaining toast slices join the game day party, cheese side down. The ensemble heads back into the oven for another 4-5 minutes, where the magic happens. Watch as the cheese fully melts, creating a golden-brown masterpiece that's both visually appealing and irresistibly delicious.

In just a few easy steps, you've orchestrated a Southwest Mac & Grilled Cheese Sandwich that's a game day sensation. Each bite is a delicious blend of creamy macaroni, spicy jalapeños and melted cheese. It's comfort food with a Southwest twist that's sure to become a favorite at parties and picnics.  

Prep Time:  20  minutes   |    Cook Time:  15 minutes   |    Total Time:  35 minutes   |   Servings: 4

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup  Friendly Farms  Sour Cream
  • 2 tablespoons  Sweet Baby Ray’s  Original Barbecue Sauce
  • 5 tablespoons chopped  Tuscan Garden  Jalapeño Pepper slices
  • 2 tablespoons chopped green onion
  • Stonemill  Sea Salt Grinder, to taste
  • Stonemill  Peppercorn Grinder, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon  Stonemill  Ground Cumin
  • 3 teaspoons  Stonemill  Minced Garlic in Water
  • 2 cups cooked  Reggano  Elbow Macaroni
  • 8 slices  Mama Cozzi’s Pizza Kitchen  Garlic Texas Toast
  • 8 slices  Happy Farms  Deli Sliced Cheddar
  • 8 slices  Happy Farms  Deli Sliced Pepper Jack Cheese

Directions:                                   

  1. Preheat oven to 425º.
  2. In a small bowl, combine sour cream, barbecue sauce, jalapeños, green onion, salt, pepper, cumin and garlic. Add the macaroni, toss to combine.
  3. Place 8 slices of Texas Toast onto a cookie sheet, and bake for 4 minutes.
  4. Top each slice of Texas Toast with a slice of cheddar and a slice of pepper jack cheese. Place ¼ cup of macaroni mixture on 4 pieces of toast. Top each with the remaining toast slices, cheese side down.
  5. Return to the oven and bake 4-5 minutes or until cheese has fully melted and the toast is golden brown.

TIP: For less bread, make an open-faced sandwich by topping the macaroni mixture with the cheese slices and baking in the oven.

Recipe Courtesy of Chef Scott, ALDI Test Kitchen