Roasted Red Pepper Mac and Cheese makes for a creamy and delicious side dish that’s comforting and sure to be a family favorite recipe!
Roasted red peppers blended and mixed into a delicious, rich and creamy mac and cheese! Our daughter is a huge fan of pasta. We try to limit pasta to once a week and when we have it we like to have fun. She loves colorful food and it has to have flavor!
By adding roasted peppers into her otherwise white mac and cheese we get a pretty orange mac and cheese! They adding roasted peppers into her otherwise white mac and cheese we get a pretty orange mac and cheese! The smoked paprika in this recipe really gives it a little something special, definitely a good thing!
The other day I shared a post on how to make roasted red peppers, so be sure to check that out if you’re not sure how to make them. This roasted red pepper cheese isn’t just excellent on pasta it’s also perfect for pretzel dip, cheesy veggies, or on french fries!
how to make roasted red pepper mac and cheese
- Roasted red peppers are the star so first, you’ll want to transfer to a blender or food processor the amount you’ll need for this recipe. You can make it chunky or smooth.
- In a saucepan on medium heat, you’ll melt the butter and then add in the flour to make a roux.
- Slowly add in the half and half mixing until the roux is thickened and mixed into the cream.
- Add in the roasted pepper and then the parmesan cheese and paprika.
- Stir gently until the cheese is fully melted.
- You can add in onion powder and hot sauce for even more flavor. Once it’s done you can salt and pepper to taste.
- In a saucepan melt butter, once melted and bubbly add in the flour until your roux is nice and combined. Put the heat on medium-low and add in the half and half mixing until it’s combined with the roux. Add the roasted pepper, stir to combine. Mix in the cheddar, parmesan, and paprika mixing until the cheese is fully melted. Stir into pasta and enjoy.
I love using my stainless steel pan, but you can use nonstick if you prefer.
Roasted Red Pepper Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 teaspoon butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoon flour
- 1/2 cup half & half
- 1/2 roasted red pepper pureed
- 4 ounces white cheddar cheese chopped or shredded
- 1 ounce parmesan cheese shredded
- pinch smoked paprika
- 1 lb pasta cooked
Instructions
- In a saucepan melt butter, once melted and bubbly add in the flour until your roux is nice and combined.
- Put the heat on medium-low and add in the half and half mixing until it's combined with the roux.
- Add the roasted pepper, stir to combine.
- Mix in the cheddar, parmesan, and paprika mixing until the cheese is fully melted.
- Stir into pasta and enjoy.
This looks so good! I love macaroni cheese and roasted peppers sound like an amazing addition. Love smoked paprika too! This is right up my street!
What a great way to spice up mac and cheese Courtney!
I can’t wait to make this! Just wondering if I can use jarred roasted red peppers instead of doing that myself?
Hi Nicole!
You can definitely use jarred, but I cannot guarantee that it will taste as good as when you make your own. If you do make it with jarred let me know how it turns out – I’m sure it will still be delicious 🙂
Is that a half of one pepper roasted and puréed? Vs like a half a cup or something puréed? It just doesn’t seem like very much, but…..I’ve never made this or roasted red peppers myself either, so what do I know. Just wanted to double check I was doing it right. Thanks!! Looks delicious, making later this week.
Ok, I made it tonight and used about half a pepper, it was delicious. Great recipe!
SO sorry I didn’t answer before you made it, but you made it correctly 🙂 Just half of a roasted pepper is perfect for our taste 🙂 You could always add more if you wanted! Thanks so much for trying and glad it was delicious for you too!!
Made this tonight and it was phenomenal!! I am a mac and cheese fiend, and this just made it into my top 3. Thanks for posting! 🙂
Woohoo, glad it was a hit for you! Thanks so much for the comment 🙂
Wow the first time i followed the recipe and it was amazing.. The second time i added a little of saracha and it was to die for!
great addition, Simone! Going to try that as well 🙂
Do you think this would freeze well?! I’d love to make it for my expecting sister to have on hand so she doesn’t have to cook!!