Season 08 - Dinner / S08D03
BBQ Pernil Mac and Cheese
Story
In Don Luis’s kitchen, Sundays always smelled like something magical ✨. One afternoon, after hours of slow-roasting a juicy pernil 🐖, the family gathered around the kitchen, laughing and sneaking little bites while it rested. But Don Luis had something else planned… With a playful wink 😉, he shredded the leftover pernil and stirred it into a bubbling pot of creamy mac and cheese 🧀🍝. The kids gasped as he drizzled sweet and smoky BBQ sauce over the top 🍯🔥, then finished it off with a golden cheese crust straight from the oven. It wasn’t just comfort food—it was Sunday dinner reimagined. That moment became a family tradition: whenever there was leftover pernil, you knew BBQ Mac was coming the next day!
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked pernil (shredded) 🐖 – about 1 lb
- 12 oz elbow macaroni 🍝
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter 🧈
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour 🌾
- 2 cups whole milk 🥛
- 1 cup heavy cream 🥥
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded) 🧀
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded) 🧀
- 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (grated) 🧀
- 0.75 cup BBQ sauce 🍯🔥 (sweet or smoky, your pick!)
- 0.5 tsp garlic powder 🧄
- 0.5 tsp smoked paprika 🌶️
- Salt and pepper to taste 🧂
- Optional: green onions or parsley for garnish 🌿
Instructions
- 1Cook the pasta: Boil the elbow macaroni according to package instructions 🍲. Drain and set aside.
- 2Make the roux: In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat 🧈🔥. Stir in flour and whisk for about 2 minutes.
- 3Add the dairy: Gradually pour in milk and heavy cream, whisking constantly until smooth and slightly thickened 🥄.
- 4Cheese it up: Lower heat and stir in cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan until fully melted 🧀🧀🧀. Add garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- 5Mix the magic: Stir in the cooked pasta and about 2 cups of shredded pernil 🐖🍝. Gently fold everything until well coated.
- 6Layer and bake: Transfer mixture to a baking dish. Drizzle BBQ sauce on top and lightly swirl it in 🍯. Sprinkle extra cheese if you’d like a golden crust.
- 7Bake at 375°F for 15–20 minutes, until bubbly and golden 🔥🧁.
- 8Garnish with chopped green onions or parsley 🌿 and serve warm!
About the narrator
Don Luis · A character for three generations
Don Luis is the brand character and narrator for this catalog: a warm voice for Puerto Rican family recipes tested by the real creator behind the brand. The project carries three generations of flavor and writes each recipe step by step so any kid can follow it.
Read our mission →