This delicious side dish is a twist on one of the most popular pasta dishes from my cookbook. Pork crunchies are the star of this dish, giving a crunchy, meaty element to the creamy cheddar mac and cheese. What’s a pork crunchy, you may ask? Imagine a pepperoni pizza when it comes out of the oven and the sides of the pepperoni are crispy. You fry salami and pepperoni exactly like bacon, and that makes a pork crunchy! This dish is beyond any other side for Thanksgiving you’ve ever had, I promise.
1 pound dried elbow pasta
1 stick unsalted butter
1/2 cup flour
3 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
5 cups sharp cheddar, divided
3 ounces thinly sliced salami
3 ounces thinly sliced pepperoni
1 cup panko crumbs
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Boil pasta in salty water for about 6 minutes or until al dente. Drain and set aside. In a large saucepan or pot, melt the butter over low heat then whisk in the flour for about one minute. Slowly add the milk, continuing to whisk. Bring to a slight boil then simmer until sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, whisking occasionally. With a silicone spoon, stir in the salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and 2 cups of the cheese until melted. Take off the heat and add the pasta and 2 more cups of the cheese. Stir together until we’ll combined then transfer to a greased (3 quart) baking dish. Set aside.
In a sauté pan over medium heat, add the salami and pepperoni and fry it like bacon until very crispy. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Take the pan off the heat and let slightly cool. Add the panko crumbs, tossing them in the leftover meat fat. Top the prepared mac and cheese with the panko crumbs and the remaining cup of cheese. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and panko is golden. Top with the “pork crunchies.”
*make ahead tip: the entire first paragraph of this dish can be made a day or two ahead, just cover baking dish and refrigerate then do the last step the day of.