Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
Pulled Pork Ingredients:
- Pork shoulder
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp black pepper
- Mix all of your spices together, from the chili down to the black pepper. I like using freshly ground black pepper because it's more aromatic.
- Slice your onion and throw it into the slow cooker. Don't thinly slice; you don't want your onions to fall apart!
- Rub the spice mix into your pork shoulder and put it on top of the onions.
- Cook for 10 hours on Low or, if you realize you're behind on time like I did, cook for 9 hours on low and High for about 1 hour.
Mac and Cheese Ingredients:
- Cooked pasta (ziti or fusilli)
- 1.5 stick butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1.5 cup sharp cheddar
- 1 cup gouda
- 1 cup parmesan/swiss
- Bread crumbs/panko
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Cook your pasta according to the directions on the box or bag. I used a vegetable pasta from Trader Joe's to try and be SOMEWHAT healthier, but any pasta that can hold sauce well works.
- Make a roux by putting butter and cream in a pan at low heat. Slowly whisk in the flour until your mixture thickens up.
- Mix all your cheeses together with the roux (save some of each to sprinkle on top) and then mix in your pasta. Use some of the pulled pork you just made and mix that in too!
- Sprinkle the cheese you've reserved on top, and then sprinkle some panko or bread crumbs. I use both because I like the crunchiness of the panko (usually used for tempura).
- Cook in the oven for about 15 minutes or until things are bubbly and the top is golden brown with the cheese all melted.
This mac and cheese is HEAVY. It's enough to last you for a couple of days, and you could throw all your pulled pork into it too. What I chose to do was use about half, and then I saved the other half for other delicious things!
Stay tuned for another post about the rest of my Christmas dinner, including my first attempt at making a pavlova!
