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Ultimate Comfort Food Mac & Cheese Martinis

A whimsical, sophisticated take on childhood favorites. Rich, homemade creamy macaroni and cheese served elegantly in martini glasses, garnished with crispy dinosaur chicken nuggets and pizza rolls. The ultimate fun party food!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 martinis
Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

The White Cheddar Shells (Cocktail 1)
  • 8 oz medium pasta shells
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 cups whole milk warmed
  • 8 oz sharp white cheddar cheese freshly grated from a block
  • 4 oz Gruyère cheese freshly grated from a block
  • 0.5 tsp dry mustard powder
  • 1 box dinosaur chicken nuggets cooked until very crispy
The Classic Yellow Mac (Cocktail 2)
  • 8 oz elbow macaroni
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 cups whole milk warmed
  • 8 oz sharp yellow cheddar cheese freshly grated from a block
  • 4 oz American cheese deli style, chopped
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 box frozen pizza rolls cooked until very crispy

Equipment

  • Large Martini Glasses
  • Box Grater
  • Saucepans
  • Whisk
  • Air Fryer or Oven

Method
 

  1. Bake or air fry the dinosaur nuggets and pizza rolls according to package directions until extra crispy. Set aside.
  2. Boil pasta shells and elbow macaroni in separate pots of salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. Make the roux: In two separate saucepans, melt 2 tbsp butter over medium heat. Whisk in 2 tbsp flour into each pan and cook for 1-2 minutes until blonde and fragrant.
  4. Create the sauce base: Slowly whisk 1.5 cups of warm milk into each saucepan. Continue whisking constantly until the sauces thicken enough to coat a spoon.
  5. Season the sauces: Add mustard powder, garlic powder, salt, and white pepper to one pan. Add smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper to the other. Remove both from heat.
  6. Melt the cheese: Off the heat, whisk the white cheddar and Gruyère into the first pan until smooth. Whisk the yellow cheddar and American cheese into the second pan until glossy.
  7. Combine: Fold the cooked shells into the white cheese sauce. Fold the elbows into the yellow cheese sauce.
  8. Assemble: Scoop the hot mac and cheese into warm martini glasses. Garnish the white cheddar glasses with dinosaur nuggets on the rim, and the yellow cheddar glasses with pizza rolls on the rim. Serve immediately!

Notes

Always grate your cheese from a block. Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that will make your cheese sauce grainy instead of glossy. Warm your martini glasses with hot water before serving so the cheese doesn't seize up upon contact with cold glass.