Cranberry Chorizo Macaroni and Cheese: A Sweet, Spicy, and Savory Comfort Food Reinvention

Prepare your taste buds for an unforgettable culinary journey! This Cranberry Chorizo Macaroni and Cheese offers a delightfully unexpected twist on the classic comfort dish. Imagine creamy, dreamy, and perfectly cheesy pasta, infused with a harmonious blend of sweet, tart cranberries and the savory, spicy kick of Spanish chorizo. It’s a bold and innovative dish that promises to become a new favorite, elevating your macaroni and cheese experience to an entirely new level.

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Hello there, fellow food enthusiasts! Feast your eyes on this incredible dish. My culinary inspiration for this recipe sparked after receiving a generous bounty of cranberries, which I initially used for my Mini Sausage Party Tarts with Cranberry Mango Compote. With an abundance of these gorgeous little jewels still on hand, I was eager to create another show-stopping recipe. And thus, the Cranberry Chorizo Macaroni and Cheese was born – a true winner that perfectly balances familiar comfort with exciting new flavors.

The Undeniable Allure of Macaroni and Cheese

For me, macaroni and cheese holds a special place in the pantheon of comfort foods, right alongside a perfectly crafted pizza. It’s a dish that embodies warmth, nostalgia, and sheer deliciousness. I once encountered someone who claimed not to like mac and cheese, citing a perceived lack of texture. My immediate response was, “But mac and cheese is incredibly versatile! You can add anything to it!” This flexibility is precisely why I adore experimenting with different ingredients, leading to beloved recipes like this Cranberry Chorizo Mac and Cheese.

Crafting the perfect mac and cheese often comes down to understanding a few fundamental principles. At its heart, a classic cheese sauce follows a simple ratio, often remembered as “2:2:2:1:2”: two tablespoons of unsalted butter, two tablespoons of all-purpose flour, two cups of milk, one teaspoon of Dijon mustard, and two cups of shredded cheese. This formula provides a robust, creamy base that’s incredibly adaptable. While I sometimes tweak these guidelines – for instance, I increased the milk and Dijon in this recipe and used a bit more cheese – the core concept remains: establish a solid foundation, and then let your creativity soar with additions. This approach allows you to transform a simple dish into something extraordinary, whether you’re adding vegetables, proteins, or, in this case, a unique sweet-and-spicy combination.

The Dynamic Duo: Cranberries and Chorizo

This Cranberry Chorizo Macaroni and Cheese specifically highlights the incredible synergy between its two namesake ingredients. The journey begins by sautéing savory Spanish chorizo with finely diced onion, a touch of spicy jalapeño, and vibrant frozen cranberries. The choice between fresh or frozen cranberries is yours; both work beautifully, but it’s crucial to avoid sweetened dried cranberries. Their intense sweetness would overpower the savory balance we’re aiming for in this dish, contrasting with the rich, smoky flavors of the chorizo and the creamy cheese sauce. The cranberries, with their natural tartness, act as a perfect counterpoint to the richness of the cheese and the heat of the chorizo, creating a complex and intriguing flavor profile that will surprise and delight your palate.

If you’re looking for more innovative cranberry ideas, be sure to explore my Cranberry Chorizo Jalapeno Poppers, Cranberries ‘N Cream Bacon Bites, and my family favorite Grammy Peggy’s Cranberry Bread. These recipes showcase the incredible versatility of cranberries in both savory and sweet applications.

Crafting Your Dish: A Step-by-Step Glimpse

Once the aromatic chorizo and cranberry mixture is prepared, the next step involves creating our luscious, velvety cheese sauce. This homemade sauce is the heart of any good mac and cheese, providing that irresistible creaminess. After perfecting the sauce, we gently combine it with al dente pasta and the vibrant chorizo-cranberry blend. The entire concoction is then transferred to a baking dish, topped generously with crunchy panko breadcrumbs for an extra layer of texture, and baked until golden brown and bubbling. The process is straightforward, ensuring that even a novice cook can achieve a restaurant-quality dish with ease. The result is a beautifully balanced, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying meal that truly highlights the best of sweet, spicy, and savory elements.

Why You’ll Love This Unique Mac and Cheese

So, there you have it, folks! If you, like me, are a fervent lover of macaroni and cheese and enjoy experimenting with new flavors, then you absolutely MUST try this recipe. The subtle kick from the Spanish chorizo and the pickled jalapeño provides an exciting warmth, while the cranberries introduce a delightful sweet and tart burst. This harmonious combination, enveloped in the comforting embrace of creamy, cheesy pasta, offers a truly unique culinary experience. It’s comfort food reimagined – a perfect balance of familiar coziness and adventurous flavors that will leave you craving more.

For those who appreciate the foundational elements of mac and cheese, consider exploring my Basic Creamy Macaroni and Cheese recipe. It serves as an essential guide for mastering this timeless dish before diving into creative variations. And for a truly exceptional holiday side, don’t miss my recipe for the Best Stuffing Ever – a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!

Cranberry Chorizo Macaroni and Cheese

Creamy, dreamy cheesy pasta with a little sweet and a little spice. Try this Cranberry Chorizo Macaroni and Cheese for a totally new spin on macaroni and cheese.

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Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: cranberries, macaroni and cheese, pasta

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Authur: Erica

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• ½ Tbs extra virgin olive oil plus an additional 2 teaspoons, divided
• 8 oz Spanish chorizo sausage small dice
• 1 small yellow onion small dice
• 2 Tbs pickled jalapeno diced
• 1 cup frozen or fresh cranberries halved
• 8 oz bowties pasta or pasta of choice
• 2 Tbs unsalted butter
• 2 Tbs all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ cups milk
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 2 ½ cups shredded cheese see Notes
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• ⅛ tsp fresh cracked pepper
• ½ cup plain panko breadcrumbs

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil for the pasta.
• Heat ½ Tbs of extra virgin olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced Spanish chorizo, small diced yellow onion, diced pickled jalapeño, and halved cranberries. Cook, stirring frequently, until the chorizo is lightly browned and the cranberries and onion have softened, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the skillet from heat and set the mixture aside.
• Add the pasta of your choice (bowties recommended) to the boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
• While the pasta cooks, prepare the rich cheese sauce. In a medium saucepan, melt the 2 Tbs unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the 2 Tbs all-purpose flour, whisking continuously until a smooth roux forms. Allow it to bubble gently for about one minute to cook off the raw flour taste. Gradually whisk in the 2 ½ cups milk and 2 tsp Dijon mustard. Continue to heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce is warm and slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the 1 tsp kosher salt and ⅛ tsp fresh cracked pepper.
• In a small separate bowl, combine the ½ cup plain panko breadcrumbs with the remaining 2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil. Toss to coat evenly. This will create a wonderfully crispy topping.
• Add the 2 ½ cups shredded cheese, the cooked pasta, and the reserved cranberry-chorizo mixture to the cheese sauce. Stir everything together until well combined. The cheese doesn’t need to be fully melted at this stage, as it will continue to melt in the oven. Transfer the entire mixture into a 13×9 inch baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the olive oil-coated panko crumbs over the top.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the mac and cheese is bubbly around the edges and the panko topping is golden brown and crispy. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This recipe yields 6 delicious servings.

Notes

Don’t you love recipes that encourage using what you already have? For the shredded cheese, I used a delightful combination of 1 cup sharp white cheddar, 1 cup Colby/Jack blend, and ½ cup Parmesan. The key is to stick with lighter or white cheeses to maintain the visual appeal and avoid an overly strong, dark hue. Feel free to use any combination of mild to sharp white cheeses you prefer. The same goes for the pasta – whatever shape you have in your pantry will work perfectly, from elbow macaroni to penne or rotini.

~✿♥✿~

More Beloved Macaroni and Cheese Creations

Let’s be honest with ourselves: macaroni and cheese truly is one of the best foods on the planet. Its comforting nature makes it a perfect canvas for countless delicious variations. If you’ve enjoyed this sweet and spicy Cranberry Chorizo Mac and Cheese, you’ll definitely want to explore these other fantastic mac and cheese recipes from my collection, each offering a unique spin on this beloved classic.