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    Home » Recipes » Pasta

    Easy Chorizo Mac and Cheese Recipe

    Published: Jun 29, 2020 · Modified: May 16, 2024 by Beth Sachs · 6 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    Chorizo Mac and Cheese
    Chorizo macaroni cheese pin.

    Add smoky chorizo to regular mac and cheese for a Spanish-style twist on this family favourite pasta dish!

    This easy chorizo mac and cheese is comfort food in a bowl, and I guarantee the whole family will love it!

    Chorizo Macaroni Cheese with side salad.

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    This could very well be the greatest invention since the classic mac and cheese!

    I'm a massive fan of macaroni cheese, and so are my kids. They request it at least weekly, and I reckon they'd have it daily if possible.

    In this macaroni cheese with chorizo, the Spanish cured sausage lends a tasty smokiness, elevating the recipe to an entirely new level of deliciousness.

    👩‍🍳 Love macaroni cheese? Try my easy slow cooker mac and cheese and air fryer mac and cheese!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why should you try it?
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • 🧊 Suitable for freezing?
    • ❓ FAQS
    • 😋Related recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why should you try it?

    1. Chorizo adds a rich and smoky flavour to the classic recipe.
    2. The dish is made in just 30 minutes!
    3. This mac and cheese is easily customisable with veggie add ins.
    4. Great for batch cooking and freezing.

    I tried this out today but doubled the quantities and added gruyere. Turned out great! Thanks! 🙂

    - Andy

    🥘 Ingredients

    • Butter
    • Flour
    • Milk
    • Cheddar
    • Mozzarella
    • Chorizo
    • Smoked Paprika
    • Cayenne Pepper
    • Panko breadcrumbs
    • Parmesan

    🔪 Instructions

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Melt the butter in a saucepan on a medium heat.

    Two: Fry the chorizo and garlic in the butter for a minute, before adding the flour.

    Three: Cook this for two minutes to ensure the raw flour taste is cooked out.

    Four: Gradually add the milk and whisk continually until the sauce thickens.

    Step by step instructions for making mac and cheese steps 1 to 4.

    Five: Take the sauce off the heat and add the cheeses. Stir the sauce until the cheeses melt.

    Six: Add the cooked macaroni and mix until combined.

    Seven: Pour into an oven-proof dish.

    Eight: Sprinkle with the panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan before baking in a pre-heated oven for 15-20 minutes.

    Step-by-step instructions for making Mac and Cheese steps 5-8

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    Chorizo mac and cheese (or any mac and cheese for that matter) goes brilliantly with my pesto focaccia bread and a crisp green salad.

    As for drinks, a dry Spanish white wine such as Albarino would pair nicely and cut through the richness of the cheese.

    📖 Variations

    There are so many options with mac and cheese! Try using Spanish cheeses, like manchego, in this Spanish-style baked macaroni.

    Here are a few more ideas to take your usual mac and cheese up a notch on the flavour front!

    1. Bacon
    2. Sweetcorn
    3. Broccoli
    4. Cauliflower
    5. Sweet Potato
    6. Cherry Tomatoes
    7. Blue Cheese
    8. Olives
    9. Sun-dried tomatoes
    10. Spinach

    Why not try adding cooked king prawns for a prawn and chorizo mac and cheese, or have a go at making my creamy chorizo and prawn pasta.

    Make slow cooker chorizo macaroni cheese using my easy slow cooker mac and cheese recipe!

    A bowl of macaroni cheese with side salad.

    🥡 Storage

    The macaroni cheese can be made up to three days ahead (unbaked) and kept in the fridge until needed.

    I often make a batch of mac and cheese on a Sunday night, ready for a quick and easy midweek meal for the kids.

    🧊 Suitable for freezing?

    Macaroni cheese is a great dish for making ahead and freezing. Cover the unbaked macaroni cheese in foil and freeze for up to 3 months! Defrost in the fridge before baking in the oven.

    ❓ FAQS

    What pasta should I use?

    Macaroni is the usual pasta of choice, although I regularly make 'macaroni' cheese with penne, rigatoni, and sometimes even farfalle. Any short pasta will work well with the cheesy sauce.

    Why do you need flour in macaroni cheese?

    The flour (along with the butter and milk) forms the roux, which is the base of the cheese sauce for the macaroni cheese. The starch in the flour helps to thicken the cheese sauce so it clings to the pasta.

    Do I need to peel the chorizo?

    Cured chorizo does not need its skin removed before cooking. Simply slice and cook as directed in the recipe.

    Overhead shot of a large macaroni cheese in a round serving dish.

    😋Related recipes

    More baked pasta recipes to try;

    • Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake
    • Easy Macaroni Cheese
    • Bacon Mac and Cheese
    • Easy Cheesy Pasta
    • Sweet Potato Macaroni Cheese
    • Pressure Cooker Macaroni Cheese

    You might also like my 50 Easy School Night Dinners round-up which features pasta dishes, meat feasts, meat-free meals, vegan recipes, slow cooker dinners, and Instant Pot wonders!

    Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter to stay up to date with what's cooking in the Effortless Foodie kitchen! You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram too!

    Recipe

    A bowl of Chorizo Mac and Cheese with side salad
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    5 from 8 votes

    Easy Chorizo Mac and Cheese

    Try this easy chorizo mac and cheese for a creamy, spicy twist on a classic. Rich cheese sauce and smoky chorizo create an unforgettable flavour.
    Course Pasta
    Cuisine Italian
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes minutes
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 881kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
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    Equipment

    • Saucepan
    • Oven Proof Baking Dish
    • Whisk
    • Cheese Grater
    • Kitchen Scales

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary

    For the pasta and cheese sauce

    • 50 g Butter
    • 175 g Chorizo sliced
    • 2 Garlic Cloves chopped
    • 50 g Plain Flour
    • 600 ml Milk
    • 200 g Extra Mature Cheddar grated
    • 100 g Block Mozzarella grated
    • 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
    • 250 g Macaroni

    For the topping

    • 25 g Panko Breadcrumbs
    • 2 tablespoon Parmesan grated

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°Fan / Gas Mark 4/ 350F).
    • Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Cook the macaroni according to packet instructions. Drain and set aside.
      250 g Macaroni
    • Meanwhile in another large pan, melt the butter over a medium heat.
      50 g Butter
    • Add the chorizo and garlic and fry for a minute to release the chorizo oils.
      175 g Chorizo, 2 Garlic Cloves
    • Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring all the time.
      50 g Plain Flour
    • Gradually add the milk, turn up the heat and whisk until the sauce thickens. It should coat the back of a wooden spoon. This usually takes a couple of minutes.
      600 ml Milk
    • Take the sauce off the heat and add the grated cheddar, mozzarella, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper and Dijon mustard. Stir until the cheese melts into the sauce.
      200 g Extra Mature Cheddar, 100 g Block Mozzarella, 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika, ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper, 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
    • Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce, mix together, and spoon into an ovenproof dish.
    • Sprinkle over the panko breadcrumbs and parmesan, and bake in the oven for 20 minutes until golden and bubbling.
      25 g Panko Breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoon Parmesan

    Video

    Notes

    Nutrition: The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Chorizo Mac and Cheese
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    881
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    45
    g
    69
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    22
    g
    138
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    116
    mg
    39
    %
    Sodium
     
    1160
    mg
    50
    %
    Potassium
     
    451
    mg
    13
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    73
    g
    24
    %
    Fiber
     
    3
    g
    13
    %
    Sugar
     
    10
    g
    11
    %
    Protein
     
    44
    g
    88
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    1387
    IU
    28
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    1
    mg
    1
    %
    Calcium
     
    726
    mg
    73
    %
    Iron
     
    4
    mg
    22
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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      Creamy Spinach and Blue Cheese Pasta
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      Easy Cheesy Pasta Recipe
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bre

      August 03, 2020 at 4:02 pm

      5 stars
      This looks SO good! Definitely something you would find at a good BBQ place!

      Reply
    2. Carrie Robinson

      August 03, 2020 at 4:11 pm

      5 stars
      Ooooooo... I am just loving the addition of the chorizo in this! Yum! 🙂

      Reply
    3. Noelle

      August 03, 2020 at 4:18 pm

      5 stars
      This was the perfect dinner for my family! Everyone loved it, thanks for sharing!!

      Reply
    4. Tawnie Kroll

      August 03, 2020 at 4:38 pm

      5 stars
      Our new favorite way to enjoy mac and cheese, so good! Thank you!

      Reply
    5. Colleen

      August 03, 2020 at 5:01 pm

      5 stars
      I love putting add-ins in my mac & cheese, and chorizo sounds like a perfect one. Can't wait to try!

      Reply
    6. Andy

      June 25, 2022 at 6:00 pm

      5 stars
      I tried this out today, but doubled the quantities and added gruyere.

      Turned out great! Thanks! 🙂

      Reply
    5 from 8 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    Chorizo Mac and Cheese
    Chorizo macaroni cheese pin.

    Hi, I'm Beth!

    Mum of three (and two crazy dogs), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

    Read more!

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