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Sriracha Mac and Cheese

Sriracha Mac and Cheese is a classic dish amped up with spicy Sriracha hot sauce and a few secret ingredients for a healthier comfort food you’ll love!

Sriracha Mac and Cheese, a classic amped up with spicy sriracha hot sauce and a few secret ingredients for a healthier comfort food version you'll love! | joyfulhealthyeats.com #recipes #lowcalorie

Sriracha Macaroni and Cheese

Since it’s Monday I figured we needed a nice comforting dish to start the week, and what’s more comforting than a cheesy Mac and Cheese Recipe!!

Mac and Cheese is hands down one of my sons favorite meals. Pretty sure he would live off the stuff if I let him. Unfortunately he has a food blogger as a mom …. aka we rarely eat the same meal twice.  Which can be fun and exciting because …

“you never know what your gonna get.” (said in my best Forest Gump voice)

Sriracha Mac and Cheese, a classic amped up with spicy sriracha hot sauce and a few secret ingredients for a healthier comfort food version you'll love! | joyfulhealthyeats.com #recipes #lowcalorie

But sometimes you just want to have one of those classic comfort food dishes that makes your heart and tummy happy!

To be honest, I have actually never made homemade Mac and Cheese before. Gasp!

I usually just buy the Annie’s Homegrown version to whip up real quick. But after making this Sriracha Mac and Cheese I will be making HOMEMADE Mac ‘n Cheese alot more! It was so stinking easy to make, the cheese sauce thickened up perfectly, and the taste knocked Annie’s out of the park.

Sriracha Mac and Cheese, a classic amped up with spicy sriracha hot sauce and a few secret ingredients for a healthier comfort food version you'll love! | joyfulhealthyeats.com #recipes #lowcalorie

What I love about homemade Mac and Cheese is you literally can use whatever cheese that suits your fancy that day. Cheddar, Gouda, Goat Cheese, whatever! We just got a new HEB (grocery store) by our house and whenever Cason and I go, we tend to hang out by the cheese area for a little bit. Ok… for the samples! 🙂 hehe

While we were over there I was glancing through the different kinds of cheeses trying to decided which one to use for the Mac and Cheese and what would pair well with Sriracha. 🙂 I was looking for Fontina cheese, which is a smooth buttery white cheese with a slight woodsy taste but locked eyes on something called Fontiago. I asked to try it and fell in love! This cheese is a mix between Fontina and Asiago and holy moly it was amazing! I couldn’t wait to get home and make Mac and Cheese that night!

Sriracha Mac and Cheese, a classic amped up with spicy sriracha hot sauce and a few secret ingredients for a healthier comfort food version you'll love! | joyfulhealthyeats.com #recipes #lowcalorie

This Sriracha Mac and Cheese Recipe is made on the stove top, done in 20 minutes, and is definitely a lighter healthier version of a classic comfort food with only 324 calories a serving. I added just two teaspoons of Sriracha to this because I had a little guy eating it with me, but go Sriracha crazy if you want to turn the heat up in this recipe! 🙂 Bon Appetite!

Comfort Food Monday here we come!

Sriracha Mac and Cheese, a classic amped up with spicy sriracha hot sauce and a few secret ingredients for a healthier comfort food version you'll love! | joyfulhealthyeats.com #recipes #lowcalorie

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Sriracha Mac and Cheese-5

Sriracha Mac and Cheese

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  • Author: Krista
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 20 mins
  • Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Stove
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Sriracha Mac and Cheese is a classic dish amped up with spicy Sriracha hot sauce and a few secret ingredients for a healthier comfort food you’ll love!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb. ritoni dreamfields pasta
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons arrowroot
  • 1/2 cup red onion, diced
  • 1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken stock
  • 1 cup 2% milk
  • 1 heaping cup fontiago cheese, shredded (could use fontina, gouda, or white cheddar)
  • 2 teaspoon sriracha
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • garnish with diced fresh basil (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil.
  2. In a small saucepan over medium heat melt butter.
  3. Whisk in arrowroot, continually stirring the entire time.
  4. Add onions, cook for 2-3 minutes until translucent.
  5. Whisk in chicken broth, milk, and sriracha continue to whisk until lumps are gone. Raise to medium high heat, and cook for 10-12 minutes whisking on occasion. Sauce will start to thicken.
  6. Meanwhile add in pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and place in a large bowl.
  7. Remove milk mixture from heat, add in shredded fontina cheese, salt, and pepper. Whisk until cheese is melted.
  8. Pour cheese mixture over the pasta, toss to combine.
  9. Garnish with extra cracked pepper and/or fresh basil.

Notes

To make this dish vegetarian just sub the chicken stock for vegetable stock


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
  • Calories: 324
  • Sugar: 3 g
  • Sodium: 365 mg
  • Fat: 13 g
  • Carbohydrates: 39 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 14 g
  • Cholesterol: 8 mg

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Sriracha Mac and Cheese, a classic amped up with spicy sriracha hot sauce and a few secret ingredients for a healthier comfort food version you'll love! | joyfulhealthyeats.com #recipes #lowcalorie

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32 comments on “Sriracha Mac and Cheese”

  1. What is the arrow root for? I don’t find it in any of my local grocery stores and wondered if it is necessary for this recipe.

    1. Hey Ernie,
      It is a substitute for using flour or cornstarch to thicken sauces up. You can find it in the spice aisle at your grocery store. However, if you can’t you can most definitely use flour or cornstarch to thicken the sauce, you will need something or the sauce will be runny.

    1. haha.. thanks Andi! šŸ™‚ I think it was a winner, Cason downed this! (which is my sign, its good. hehe)

  2. Ok so I LOVE mac and cheese and I LOVE sriracha. So basically you created a delicious meal that I would devour and share with no one šŸ™‚

  3. Avatar photo
    Sam @ PancakeWarriors

    How yummy does this sound! Oh I go through sriracha so fast around here, but never thought to add it to mac and cheese, that’s gotta change! Love that you used fontina cheese – what a treat!!

  4. When you said sriracha mac & cheese I pictured red mac & cheese, but this is SO MUCH BETTER!!! And cheesy! It’s amazing!

  5. So I just had a giant cuban sandwich for lunch and am stuffed, but my mouth is watering after checking out this post. I’m pretty much sold on anything sriracha, I go through a lot of the rooster sauce. I’m also a fan of non-baked mac and cheese, it’s already plenty hardy, no need to put even more cheese on it. Well done post, really great!

  6. Avatar photo
    Justine | Cooking and Beer

    Your recipes make me smile, Krista. Actually, your whole existence makes me smile. Love this times a million!

  7. Avatar photo
    Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor

    Wow, this mac and cheese looks incredible! I had to come over and grab the recipe once I saw the sriracha!

  8. Avatar photo
    Kacey @ The Cookie Writer

    Homemade mac and cheese is my favourite! Yours looks amazing, and considering you have never made it homemade before, I have to say you would have me fooled! šŸ™‚

    1. haha… thanks Kacey! I figured, when in doubt, just keep adding cheese to thicken. šŸ™‚ Hope you get a chance to try this!

  9. Avatar photo
    Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat.

    I’ve actually never made homemade mac and cheese either. I know, crazy, but at least I’m not the only one! šŸ™‚ This looks pretty fantastic so I guess I’m going to have to try making it finally!

    1. haha.. nope your not the only one. But now for sure you need to try this! SO easy and flavor is incredible!

  10. Avatar photo
    Jocelyn @BruCrew Life

    We are a pasta loving family here! And homemade trumps boxed any day of the week. I love your spicy version so much! I know my family would enjoy this meal!!!

  11. Avatar photo
    Liz @ The Lemon Bowl

    I keep trying to get my kids to eat Sriracha and they can’t handle it yet!! šŸ™ I keep trying lol. This looks so good!

    1. I was honestly kinda shocked that Cason did try it.. but he took a bit and went… spicy.. i like spicy and kept eating it! #mommywin šŸ™‚