Save A bold and creamy comfort classic reimagined with tangy kimchi, melty cheeses, and a crunchy sesame topping. Spicy Kimchi Mac & Cheese has gone viral for good reason: each bite blends American nostalgia with the zing of Korean flavors inspired by Tineke Younger.
I first made this dish to impress guests at a casual game night and everyone was blown away by the unique combo. The cheesy sauce with kimchi was so comforting—now it’s requested at every get-together.
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Ingredients
- Pasta: 300 g elbow macaroni, 1 tbsp salt (for boiling water)
- Cheese Sauce: 2 tbsp unsalted butter, 2 tbsp all-purpose flour, 450 ml whole milk, 150 g sharp cheddar cheese (grated), 75 g mozzarella cheese (grated), 50 g cream cheese (cubed), 1 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste), 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp black pepper, salt (to taste)
- Kimchi Mixture: 150 g well-fermented kimchi (chopped), 1 tbsp kimchi juice, 2 spring onions (finely sliced)
- Topping: 50 g panko breadcrumbs, 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds, 1 tbsp unsalted butter (melted), 1 tsp sesame oil
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Instructions
- Prep Oven & Pan:
- Preheat oven to 200°C (390°F). Grease a medium baking dish.
- Cook Pasta:
- Boil elbow macaroni in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make Cheese Sauce:
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute.
- Add Milk:
- Gradually whisk in milk until smooth and thickened, about 4 and 5 minutes.
- Melt Cheese & Flavor:
- Lower heat. Stir in cheddar, mozzarella, and cream cheese until melted. Mix in gochujang, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Season with salt.
- Add Kimchi & Onions:
- Fold in chopped kimchi, kimchi juice, and sliced spring onions.
- Combine Pasta & Sauce:
- Stir drained macaroni into the cheese sauce. Mix thoroughly and pour into prepared baking dish.
- Prepare Topping:
- Mix panko, toasted sesame seeds, melted butter, and sesame oil. Sprinkle evenly over pasta.
- Bake:
- Bake 15 and 20 minutes, until golden on top and bubbling. Let cool slightly before serving.
Save My family loves making this together because assembling the layers is so hands-on. When we pull the bubbling casserole from the oven, everyone races to the table—sometimes it barely cools before it’s gone.
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Required Tools
Medium saucepan, whisk, large pot, baking dish, mixing bowls, oven.
Allergen Information
Contains: Wheat (gluten), milk (dairy), sesame. Kimchi may include fish sauce—check labels. For allergies, use vegan alternatives.
Nutritional Information (per serving)
Calories: 545, Total Fat: 26 g, Carbohydrates: 57 g, Protein: 19 g.
Save
This spicy, crunchy comfort food will quickly become your favorite weeknight staple. Enjoy every bite and don’t be surprised when guests ask for seconds.
