Korean-Style Turkey Mac & Cheese (Printer-friendly)

Creamy cheesy pasta topped with flavorful Korean-spiced turkey crumbles, fresh scallions, and sesame seeds.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz elbow macaroni

→ Sauce

02 - 2 cups whole milk
03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
04 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
05 - 1.5 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
06 - 0.5 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
07 - 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
08 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

→ Korean-Style Turkey

09 - 1 pound ground turkey
10 - 2 tablespoons gochujang
11 - 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
12 - 1 tablespoon honey
13 - 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
14 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
15 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
16 - 0.5 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional

→ Garnish

17 - 4 scallions, thinly sliced
18 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds, optional

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
02 - Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute until combined.
03 - Gradually add milk while whisking constantly until mixture becomes smooth and slightly thickened, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
04 - Lower heat to low and stir in cheddar and mozzarella cheeses until completely melted and smooth. Season with salt and black pepper. Keep warm.
05 - Heat sesame oil in a separate skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
06 - Add ground turkey to the skillet and cook while breaking up meat into crumbles until no pink remains, approximately 5 to 6 minutes.
07 - Stir in gochujang, soy sauce, and honey. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until turkey is well-coated and sauce thickens slightly. Add red pepper flakes if desired. Remove from heat.
08 - Transfer cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and stir until fully coated and creamy. Fold in half of the turkey mixture.
09 - Divide mac and cheese among serving bowls. Top each with remaining turkey crumbles, sliced scallions, and sesame seeds if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like two completely different dishes had a delicious argument and ended up becoming best friends.
  • The gochujang gives you that addictive sweet-spicy heat that makes you reach for just one more forkful.
  • You can have a restaurant-quality fusion dinner on the table in under 45 minutes without feeling rushed.
02 -
  • Gochujang comes in different heat levels, so taste a tiny bit first and adjust the amount based on your tolerance, since it's almost impossible to un-spice something once it's mixed in.
  • Don't skip the step of cooking the pasta slightly under, because the residual heat and hot sauce will continue softening it and prevent mushiness.
03 -
  • Make the cheese sauce first and keep it warm while you cook the turkey, so everything comes together hot and stays that way on the plate.
  • Taste the gochujang mixture before combining with the pasta so you can adjust spice levels to your crowd, since palates vary wildly and this is one dish where heat level matters.
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