Green Chile Mac and Cheese

What could make mac & cheese even better? Taking it on a Southwestern spin with roasted green chiles, corn, and jack cheese!

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated October 27, 2023
Elise Bauer
Green Chile Mac Cheese
Elise Bauer

So, our markets are awash with New Mexico Hatch green chiles right now, and our garden is bursting with poblanos and Anaheims.

This is not a bad problem to have.

We may complain about the zucchini beast and her cousin the cucumber monster, but the chile plants? Uh uh. We roast and eat every one. Here's my new favorite recipe for putting to good use garden or market green chiles—a green chile mac and cheese casserole, with corn. Yum!

This is so good that even my friends who typically shy away from cheesy dishes asked for more. There's something about the trio—green chiles, corn, and cheese—that's irresistible. The splash of lime? Perfect.

Green Chile Mac Cheese
Elise Bauer

Green Chile Mac and Cheese

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Total Time 65 mins
Servings 4 to 6 servings

We used a mixture of hatch, anaheim, and poblano chiles for this dish, but any combination of those you'd like will work. Just remember to taste test the chiles before adding them to the casserole. Even though these are mild green chiles, once in a while you'll get a hot one!

Some markets sell a "Mexican blend" of shredded cheese; feel free to use this cheese blend in this recipe.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni

  • Salt

  • 2 cups whole milk

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1/4 pound (1 cup, packed) finely shredded jack cheese

  • 1/4 pound (1 cup, packed) finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese

  • 1 cup corn kernels

  • 1 1/4 cups chopped roasted, seeded green chiles, or 3 (4-ounce) cans diced roasted green chiles

  • 1 tablespoon lime juice

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup panko or other breadcrumbs

Method

  1. Cook the macaroni very al dente:

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (a tablespoon of salt for every 2 quarts of water). Add the macaroni pasta. Return to a rolling boil, and boil, uncovered, for about 2 minutes less than the cooking time given on the pasta box instructions.

    The pasta should be mostly cooked, but still a little too firm to eat; it will complete its cooking in the oven.

    When the pasta is ready, drain it into a colander and run cold water over it to stop the cooking.

  2. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  3. Make a roux with butter and flour:

    In an ovenproof pot such as a casserole or Dutch oven, heat the butter over medium heat. When the butter is melted and bubbly, stir in the flour to make a roux. Cook this, stirring often, for about 2 minutes. You don't want the roux to brown.

    Elise Bauer
    Elise Bauer
  4. Slowly whisk in milk, then the cheeses:

    Add the milk to the roux, a little at a time, stirring constantly so that lumps do not form. Whisk until smooth.

    Elise Bauer

    Stir in the cheeses third at a time, stirring to incorporate after each addition.

    Elise Bauer
    Elise Bauer
  5. Stir in pasta, chiles, corn, lime juice, salt:

    Add the macaroni, chiles, corn and lime juice and stir until well combined. Taste for salt, add a teaspoon, less or more, if needed.

    Elise Bauer
    Elise Bauer
  6. Top with panko and bake:

    Top the mac and cheese with panko or breadcrumbs. Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes at 400°F, or until the breadcrumbs are lightly browned.

    Elise Bauer
    Elise Bauer

    Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Roasting Chiles

If you are roasting your own chiles (highly recommended), start with about 5-6 large green chiles—Hatch, Anaheims, or poblanos, or a mixture—and char them over a gas stove (see directions for roasting over a gas flame), under a broiler (roast until one side has blackened, then flip to blacken the other side), or on a grill. Place in a covered bowl to steam, then peel off the charred skin. Remove and discard the seeds and stems. 

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
389 Calories
22g Fat
33g Carbs
17g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 389
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g 28%
Saturated Fat 13g 63%
Cholesterol 59mg 20%
Sodium 767mg 33%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 17g
Vitamin C 78mg 390%
Calcium 385mg 30%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 340mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.