Quick & Creamy Mac and Kim-Cheese Recipe for Cozy Comfort

Mac and kim-cheese brings comfort and excitement to your dinner table with its unique fusion of flavors.

Creamy textures and bold ingredients revamp an ordinary meal into something extraordinary.

Culinary enthusiasts appreciate how this dish blends traditional elements with innovative twists.

Regional influences contribute to its rich, complex profile that tantalizes taste buds.

Simple techniques make this recipe accessible to home cooks of all skill levels.

Unexpected combinations create a delightful experience that challenges conventional pasta expectations.

The magic happens when familiar ingredients meet surprising techniques.

Mac and Kim-Cheese: Why It’s a Flavor Bomb

• Revolutionize Classic Comfort: Transform traditional mac and cheese with a zesty Korean-inspired twist by adding kimchi, creating an unexpected flavor explosion that elevates the familiar dish.
• Effortless Gourmet Magic: Achieve restaurant-quality results with simple techniques like using sodium citrate for ultra-smooth cheese sauce, making complex cooking feel surprisingly easy and foolproof.
• Quick Flavor-Packed Meal: Whip up this entire dish in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights when you crave something deliciously satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Enjoy as a hearty side dish, quick lunch, or casual dinner that appeals to adventurous food lovers and comfort food enthusiasts alike, bridging traditional and modern culinary styles.

What Goes into This Cheesy Kimchi Pasta

• Macaroni: Classic pasta shape with great cheese-catching capabilities, choose enriched or whole wheat for added nutrition.

• Milk: Creamy base for sauce, whole milk provides richer texture.
• Sodium Citrate: Emulsifying agent that ensures smooth cheese sauce, available in specialty food stores.
• Cheddar Cheese, Monterey Jack Cheese: Melty cheeses that create rich, smooth sauce, select high-quality block cheese for best results.

• Kimchi: Spicy Korean fermented cabbage adding tangy and complex flavor, choose well-fermented, authentic kimchi.
• Breadcrumbs: Crunchy topping for textural contrast, preferably panko for extra crispiness.
• Butter: Helps grease baking dish and adds rich flavor, unsalted recommended for better control of saltiness.

Building the Ultimate Mac and Kim-Cheese Bowl

Step 1: Boil Pasta

• Fill a large pot with water
• Add salt
• Bring water to a rolling boil
• Cook macaroni according to package directions
• Drain pasta when it's slightly firm (al dente)
• If baking, drain pasta 30-60 seconds earlier

Step 2: Create Cheese Sauce Base

• In a medium saucepan, combine milk and sodium citrate
• Cook over medium heat
• Whisk occasionally
• Continue until sodium citrate dissolves
• Watch for small bubbles forming around edges

Step 3: Melt Cheese Smoothly

• Reduce heat to low
• Gradually add cheese
• Whisk until each cheese addition melts completely
• If baking, set aside 1/4 cup cheese for topping

Step 4: Incorporate Kimchi

• Fold kimchi into cheese and pasta mixture
• Ensure even distribution

Step 5: Bake And Crisp (Optional)

• Preheat broiler
• Butter a 2-quart casserole dish
• Transfer mac and cheese to dish
• Sprinkle reserved cheese on top
• Add breadcrumbs
• Broil for 3-5 minutes
• Watch until breadcrumbs turn golden
• Cheese should bubble and look irresistible

Tips for Getting the Creaminess Just Right

• Select High-Quality Cheese: Choose flavorful, melting cheeses like sharp cheddar or gruyère for maximum taste and smooth texture.
• Control Kimchi Moisture: Drain excess liquid from kimchi to prevent watery mac and cheese, maintaining a perfect creamy consistency.
• Master Sodium Citrate Technique: Whisk sodium citrate thoroughly to ensure smooth cheese sauce without graininess or separation.
• Undercook Pasta Strategically: Remove macaroni slightly before al dente when baking, as it will continue cooking under the broiler.
• Layer Flavors Thoughtfully: Chop kimchi into smaller pieces to distribute heat and tanginess evenly throughout the mac and cheese.

How to Keep Mac and Kim-Cheese Tasty After Reheating

• Refrigerate: Store leftover mac and kim-cheese in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Properly sealed, it will stay fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Freeze: Transfer cooled mac and kim-cheese to freezer-safe containers. Wrap tightly to prevent freezer burn. Frozen mac and kim-cheese can last up to 2 months.
• Reheat: Warm refrigerated mac and kim-cheese in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until heated through. For best texture, add a splash of milk to prevent drying. Alternatively, reheat in a covered oven-safe dish at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, stirring midway to ensure even heating.

Great Sides to Serve with Mac and Kim-Cheese

• Spice Up with Korean Soju: Pair this mac and kimchi-cheese with a crisp, cold glass of soju for a zesty Korean-inspired dining experience that complements the tangy kimchi flavors.
• Match with Crisp Salad: Create a refreshing contrast by serving a light, green salad with a zingy vinaigrette alongside the rich and creamy mac and cheese to balance the dish's intensity.
• Embrace Pickled Sides: Add some quick-pickled vegetables like cucumber or radish on the side to enhance the kimchi's fermented notes and provide a crunchy texture that cuts through the creamy pasta.
• Complement with Light Beer: Choose a light, crisp beer like a pale lager or pilsner to cleanse the palate and offset the rich, cheesy, and spicy elements of the mac and kimchi-cheese.

Kimchi Mac Variations That Hit Different

• Spicy Korean Mac: Add gochujang or sriracha for extra heat, increasing kimchi quantity for bold Korean flavors.
• Vegetable-Loaded Korean Mac: Mix in sautéed mushrooms, spinach, and bell peppers for added nutrition and texture.
• Protein-Packed Korean Mac: Incorporate cooked chicken, shredded beef, or tofu cubes to transform the dish into a complete meal.
• Crispy Kimchi Mac: Top with crispy panko breadcrumbs and crushed sesame seeds for additional crunch and authentic Korean touch.

Mac and Kim-Cheese Recipe

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4.7 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Korean-inspired mac and kim-cheese blends creamy pasta with tangy kimchi, offering a bold fusion of comfort and spice. Cheese lovers will savor this zesty twist on classic macaroni, bringing Seoul’s culinary magic to your dinner table.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 8 ounces (226 grams) elbow macaroni
• 6 ounces (170 grams) goat’s milk or regular white cheddar cheese, shredded
• 2 ounces (57 grams) gruyere cheese, shredded
• ½ ounce (14 grams) pecorino cheese, finely shredded
• ½ cup drained and coarsely chopped kimchi

Liquid and Binding Ingredients:

• ¾ cup (180 milliliters) milk
• 1 teaspoon sodium citrate

Topping Ingredients:

• ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
• Thinly sliced green onions

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Instructions

1. Fill a large pot with water, generously salt, and set to high heat until vigorously boiling.
2. Add macaroni to the boiling water, stirring occasionally, and cook until just shy of al dente, roughly 1-2 minutes less than package recommendation.
3. While pasta cooks, prepare a medium saucepan by combining milk and sodium citrate over medium temperature.
4. Whisk the milk mixture periodically, allowing sodium citrate to fully dissolve and creating small bubbles around the pan’s perimeter.
5. Decrease heat to low, creating a gentle simmer for cheese incorporation.
6. Systematically introduce cheese varieties, whisking thoroughly after each addition to ensure complete melting and smooth consistency.
7. Gently fold cooked macaroni and chopped kimchi into the creamy cheese sauce, ensuring even distribution.
8. For baked variation, activate oven broiler and lightly grease a 2-quart casserole dish with butter.
9. Transfer mac and kimchi-cheese mixture into prepared dish, sprinkling reserved cheese and breadcrumbs across the top.
10. Position dish under broiler, monitoring closely for 3-5 minutes until breadcrumbs transform into golden brown and cheese develops a bubbly, enticing surface.

Notes

• Sodium citrate is the secret ingredient that creates an ultra-smooth, creamy cheese sauce without traditional roux methods.
• Choose a high-quality kimchi with robust fermented flavor to elevate the mac and cheese with tangy, spicy complexity.
• Remove pasta slightly before fully cooked when planning to bake, preventing mushy texture during final broiling stage.
• Whisk cheese gradually into warm milk mixture to ensure complete melting and prevent grainy sauce consistency.
• Broiling adds crispy breadcrumb topping and helps develop beautiful golden-brown cheese bubbles for textural contrast.
• Store leftovers in airtight container for up to 3 days, gently reheating with splash of milk to restore creamy texture.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Korean-American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 500
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 450 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 14 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 54 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 18 g
• Cholesterol: 50 mg