Description
A creamy, cheesy mac and cheese with tender steak bites and a subtle kick from pepper jack cheese, ready in 30 minutes. Perfect for a quick, comforting dinner that feels indulgent without the fuss.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces elbow macaroni
- 8 ounces thinly sliced steak (flank or sirloin preferred)
- 2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 2 cups whole milk
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- Fresh cilantro or parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add thinly sliced steak, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until browned but tender, about 3-4 minutes. Remove steak and set aside.
- Lower heat to medium. In the same skillet, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until nutty but not brown.
- Slowly whisk in milk, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Continue whisking until sauce thickens, about 4-5 minutes.
- Lower heat to medium-low. Stir in cream cheese until melted and smooth. Gradually add shredded pepper jack cheese, stirring constantly until melted and sauce is creamy. Add a splash of milk if sauce is too thick.
- Return cooked steak to skillet, add drained macaroni, and toss gently to coat pasta and steak in queso sauce.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use freshly shredded pepper jack cheese for the smoothest sauce. Thinly slice steak for quick cooking and tenderness. If sauce is too thick, add milk or broth to loosen. Leftover steak works perfectly. Reheat gently with a splash of milk to maintain creaminess. Can substitute Greek yogurt for cream cheese with slight texture change. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and flour substitute.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 510
- Fat: 24
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: steak mac and cheese, pepper jack queso mac, creamy mac and cheese, quick dinner, comfort food, cheesy pasta, steak recipe