Kimchi Mac and Cheese (Printable)

Creamy, cheesy macaroni meets spicy kimchi in this comforting Korean-American fusion dish with crispy breadcrumb topping.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 10.5 oz elbow macaroni

→ Cheese Sauce

02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
04 - 2 cups whole milk
05 - 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
06 - ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
07 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
08 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper
09 - ½ tsp salt

→ Kimchi Mixture

10 - 1 cup kimchi, chopped and well-drained
11 - 1 tbsp kimchi juice
12 - 2 spring onions, finely sliced
13 - 1 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)

→ Topping

14 - ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
15 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
16 - 1 tbsp sesame seeds

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a medium baking dish.
02 - Cook macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp butter. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute.
04 - Gradually pour in milk, whisking constantly until smooth and thickened, about 4-5 minutes.
05 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in cheddar, mozzarella, mustard, black pepper, and salt until melted and smooth.
06 - Fold in cooked macaroni, chopped kimchi, kimchi juice, spring onions, and gochujang. Mix well.
07 - Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
08 - Combine panko breadcrumbs with 1 tbsp melted butter and sesame seeds. Sprinkle evenly over the macaroni.
09 - Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden and bubbling.
10 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The tangy kimchi cuts through all that rich cheese so it never feels too heavy
  • That golden panko topping creates the most satisfying crunch against the creamy pasta
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like something you would order at a trendy fusion restaurant
02 -
  • Squeezing the liquid out of your kimchi prevents the final dish from becoming soupy
  • Shredding your own cheese makes all the difference between smooth and grainy sauce
  • Let the dish rest for five minutes before serving so the sauce has time to set
03 -
  • Broil for the last two minutes of baking for an extra crispy, golden crust
  • Room temperature ingredients incorporate more smoothly into the sauce

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