One small change and your classic potato casserole will never be the same. Cheetos cheesy potatoes have all the starchy cheesiness that you love but are finished off with an even cheesier topping.

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I couldn’t let my self-proclaimed birthday month of recipes go by without sharing one with Cheetos. This is simply a version of the classic cheesy potato casserole topped with Cheetos similarly to my Cheetos mac and cheese but a bit heavier on the Cheetos. It doesn’t get any cheesier than this.

These Cheetos cheesy potatoes were served at a friends BBQ cookout over Memorial Day weekend to which I also brought a more classic cheddar mac and cheese at the request of the host. Thankfully cheesy potatoes are easy to make so adding a second dish wasn’t a big deal. Of course I also brought dessert but that recipe is for another day…

Evidently cheese side dishes were in high demand because there were barely any leftovers. Guess Cheetos are like bacon – they make everything better. Who needs corn flakes on top when you can have Cheetos cheesy potatoes? I even had requests for the recipe despite the substitution being so simple. Just proves that small changes can make a difference after all.

CHEETOS CHEESY POTATOES

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Yield: 8 Servings Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cooking Time: 45 Minutes 45 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

POTATO MIXTURE

• 1 (32 oz.) pkg. frozen diced hashbrowns, thawed
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground pepper
• 1 (10.5 oz.) can cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 cups sour cream*
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• Dried minced onion, to taste

TOPPING

• 2 cups crushed crunchy cheese-flavored corn snacks** (Cheetos)
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan, set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the potato mixture together, stirring until evenly distributed, and pour into prepared pan. In a medium bowl, stir together the crushed Cheetos and butter until coated. Sprinkle over the potato mixture.
3. Bake for 45 minutes or until bubbly and the topping is golden.

Notes

*Plain nonfat Greek yogurt also works if preferred. ** Don't completely pulverize them, but to the point that the largest pieces are pea-sized.

Source: Adapted slightly from my Cheesy Potato Casserole, inspired by my Cheetos Mac and Cheese.

Skillet Sloppy Joe Pot Pie takes a weeknight dinner classic to the next level by baking it in a cast iron skillet topped with cheddar cheese and biscuits.

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Originally this was going to be my Pi Day recipe. My husband thought that it was a stretch to make a sloppy joe pot pie in a cast iron skillet topped with biscuits for Pi Day but it doesn’t have to be pie to celebrate pie day, it just has to be round! Cast iron skillets happen to be round. Although when I found out that National Sloppy Joe Day was on March 18th I decided to postpone. Instead I shared a Dubai chocolate tart for pie day which I think was a good trade off since now I got to have both.

The first time I made a sloppy joe pot pie it was topped with tater tots, but even when I precooked them before baking them on top I didn’t feel like the tater tots were crispy enough. Maybe I like my tater tots extra crispy (truth) but I was not prepared to share what I considered to be a lack-luster recipe. However I still wanted it to be a fairly simple recipe so I ended up using refrigerated biscuits instead. Yes the biscuits are going to be a but soggy but in this situation I am okay with it.

SKILLET SLOPPY JOE POT PIE WITH BISCUITS

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Yield: 8 Servings Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cooking Time: 35 Minutes 35 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 lb. ground sirloin
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and minced (~1-1/2 cups)
• 1 medium onion, peeled and minced (~1 cup)
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp chili powder
• 2 tsp yellow mustard
• 1-1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
• 3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 8 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded (~2 cups)
• 1 (16.3 oz.) can refrigerated biscuits (8 count)**

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F with a rack on the bottom third.
2. Heat oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet* over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up gently, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Remove meat to a paper-towel lined plate and return skillet with meat great to heat.
3. Add the onion and green bell pepper to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
4. Stir in the brown sugar, chili powder, mustard, salt, and pepper until evenly distributed. Add the beef back to the skillet along with the tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook about 5 minutes, stirring often, until starting to thicken.
5. Remove from heat, spread mixture evenly in the skillet, sprinkle 1-1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese on top, then arrange the biscuits evenly over top of the cheese.
6. Bake for 15 minutes until the biscuits are starting to turn golden brown. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese over the biscuits and bake for another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
7. Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

*Or other oven-safe skillet. **Can use homemade if you prefer, but cook time may vary.

Source: Adapted from Mama Knows Gluten Free and my Root Beer Sloppy Joes.

Live dangerously with these cheesy Cheetos deviled eggs. Imagine a classic deviled eggs but with a punch of cheddar flavor.

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It’s one of my favorite food holidays of the year – National cheese doodle day! My favorite kind is of course the classic crunchy Cheetos. No flaming hot Cheetos for me, thanks. It’s not even that they are spicy, I just don’t like their flavor.

For today’s Cheetos deviled eggs recipe I obviously stuck to my preferences. Could you use puffs? Yes, because you are just going to pulverize them anyway, but since there will be leftovers you should buy which you want to eat.

If you prefer a more saturated Cheetos flavor or don’t want to deal with pulverizing Cheetos, you can try my friend Peabody’s Cheetos deviled eggs that use the cheese packet from Cheetos mac and cheese – genius.

Otherwise, these Cheetos deviled eggs are pretty standard outside of the addition of finely shredded cheddar cheese and crushed Cheetos into the filling. Once the whites are filled, I topped them with more crushed Cheetos and little bites of whole Cheetos.

CHEETOS DEVILED EGGS

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Yield: 2 Dozen Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cooking Time: 15 Minutes 15 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 12 eggs
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 Tbsp yellow mustard
• 1 tsp white vinegar
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 oz. crunchy Cheetos, crushed and divided

Directions

1. In a pot of salted water, add the eggs. Bring to a boil, cover, remove from heat, and let cook until hard boiled, approximately 12 minutes (I love my egg indicator). Drain and let cool.
2. Once cool, remove the shell, cut in half lengthwise, and scoop the yolks into a medium bowl. Place the hard boiled whites on a tray.
3. Add the mayonnaise, mustard, and vinegar. Blend until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the cheese and 2 tablespoons of Cheetos crumbs.
4. Spoon or pipe filling back into the egg whites. Chill until ready to serve. Immediately before serving, sprinkle with remaining Cheetos crumbs. Garnish with small Cheetos if desired.

Source: Adapted from my BBQ Deviled Eggs.

Ever had apple pie with a slice of cheddar cheese on top? This apple pie with Cheetos crumble topping is actually more subtly delicious.

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In recent years, normally I take most of January off from creating new content and yet here I am. I think between not posting many new holiday recipes in preparation for the holiday and then not traveling allowed me to avoid burnout. I originally intended to store this apple pie with Cheetos recipe away for next apple season until I discovered that January is Apple Month – go figure.

I know you think I’ve gone off the deep end with this one, adding Cheetos to apple pie, but hear me out. Have you heard of putting a slice of cheddar cheese on apple pie? I first was introduced to letting a slice of cheddar melt on top of a warm slice of apple pie by my roommate in grad school. While the history behind it is murky, evidently the quote “an apple pie without some cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze” used to be printed on Marie Callender’s napkins.

In my mind it wasn’t a far leap to change that slice of cheese on top and make an apple pie with Cheetos crumble topping instead. If anything I feel like my version might be slightly more appealing because you can trick people into eating it. I know because I snuck it past my dad and step mom at Christmas.

I did add a little bit of shredded cheddar cheese into the apple pie filling as well – I didn’t want to add Cheetos because I didn’t want to risk adding a gritty texture. However, the cheddar mixed into the apple pie didn’t really change the flavor a whole lot. It was more visual as you could see little flecks of orange throughout. Maybe it added a bit of saltiness? Umami? Whatever it is, it certainly didn’t diminish the flavor as this cheddar apple pie with Cheetos on top was all gobbled up.

APPLE PIE WITH CHEETOS CRUMBLE TOPPING

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Yield: 12 Servings Prep Time: 5 Hours Cooking Time: 1 Hour 15 Minutes 1 Hour 15 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

PIE

• 1 homemade or refrigerated pie crust
• 3 lb. favorite baking apples, peeled, cored and uniformly 1/4-inch sliced  (I used a peeler/corer/slicer)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 egg lightly beaten, for brushing the bottom crust
• 1 Tbsp unsalted butter, cut into cubes

TOPPING

• 3/4 cup crushed crunchy Cheetos (about 2.5 oz)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1-1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 6 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Fit crust into a deep 9-inch pie pan and set aside.
2. In a large bowl combine the apples, sugars, cornstarch, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Give everything a toss and let stand for 15 minutes, stirring a few times. Sprinkle in cheese and toss to combine.
3. Meanwhile, prepare the topping: In a medium bowl whisk together the crushed Cheetos, sugars, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in chilled butter using a pastry cutter or two knives until mixture resembles wet sand. Set aside.
4. Brush the crust with beaten egg and fill with the apple mixture. Make a decorative edge with overhanging bottom crust, if preferred. Scatter the butter over the top of the apples and cover with the topping.
5. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven. Cover the edges of the pie with foil or a pie crust shield. Bake the pie for 30 minutes at 425 degrees. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake another 30-45 minutes, until the topping is browned and the filling has begun to bubble (or internal temperature reaches 195F).
6. Cool completely on a cooling rack to allow juices to thicken, 3-4 hours, before slicing and serving.

Notes

*I use a peeler/corer/slicer

Source: Adapted from my Maple Apple Pie with Walnut Crumble Topping.

If you have a smoker, you need to try this smoked macaroni and cheese. It only takes an hour to get that smokey flavor into your favorite side dish.

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Not to be confused with my smoked cheddar macaroni and cheese, todays recipe is macaroni and cheese made in a smoker! Similar recipes but instead of using smoked cheddar cheese and baking in the oven, the entire pan of macaroni and cheese is smoked.

While yes this recipe takes longer to cook that its predecessor, the benefit is that it frees up oven space during a time of year that oven space often comes at a premium. Yes I am talking about Thanksgiving. No I am not trying to discount Halloween like Target when it hasn’t even happened yet (please, it’s my favorite holiday), but I am joining blogger friends participating in Holiday Side Dish Week.

Also, yes I am aware that many people would not think that this smoked macaroni and cheese belongs on the Thanksgiving dinner table. But I prefer joy so it stays. Besides, it fits in so well with the other recipes I am highlighting this week including harvest succotash and chipotle cornbread muffins. Maybe I’ll have space in the smoked to make a smoked pumpkin pie for dessert, too.

• No Yeast Dinner Rolls by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Pumpkin Miso Risotto by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Easy Popovers by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Brussels Sprout Salad with Maple Dressing by Blogghetti
• Butternut Squash Methi Falafel by Magical Ingredients
• Sweet and Savory Thanksgiving Green Beans by Shockingly Delicious
• Stuffing Muffins by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Quick and Easy Charred String Beans by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• No Knead Focaccia by Sneha’s Recipe

SMOKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

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Yield: Serves 6 as side or 4 as entree Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cooking Time: 1 Hour 20 Minutes 1 Hour 20 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

MACARONI AND CHEESE

• 8 oz. favorite pasta shape
• 2-1/2 cups whole milk, warmed
• 5 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp ground mustard
• 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 6 oz. cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 oz. sharp white cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 oz. cream cheese, cubed

TOPPING

• 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 1 Tbsp dry BBQ rub

Directions

1. Preheat smoked to 225 degrees F.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions until just barely al-dente (about 1 minute less than recommended cook time). Drain and set aside.
3. Meanwhile, in a large saute pan over medium heat add butter and melt until frothy. Add flour and whisk until smooth. Continue cooking until it begins to bubble and turn golden, about 2-3 minutes. Slowly pour in milk, whisking vigorously, until all the milk is incorporated and mixture is smooth (will clump but keep whisking).
4. Continue to cook over medium heat, whisking regularly, until sauce has thickened slightly, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in mustard, paprika, and salt and pepper. Slowly add cheeses, a handful at a time, whisking until melted before adding more. Stir in pasta until evenly coated.
5. Pour into a 10-inch cast iron skillet*. In a small bowl, mix together the topping and sprinkle over top. Smoke for 1 hour and serve immediately.

Notes

*Alternatively, use a classic foil pan.

Source: Adapted from my Smoked Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese and Hey Grill Hey.

Why make regular sloppy joes when you can have Skull Sloppy Joe Bombs? Easily assembled with a few ingredients for a spooky fun dinner.

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In case the skull deviled eggs weren’t enough, I have another skull recipe for you this week – skull sloppy joe bombs! Similar to the popular pizza skulls, but made with sloppy joe and a little cheddar cheese instead.

Could I have make sloppy joes from scratch? Maybe even stuffed with them a different variation of chicken gumbo sloppy joes? Absolutely. But this recipe for skull sloppy joe bombs is more about the appearance so I decided to take the easy way out and make this semi-homemade. Because not everything needs to be homemade. Sometimes you want a quick, easy, and fun recipe.

What do you need to make Skull Sloppy Joe Bombs?

• Ground beef
• Can of sloppy joe sauce (or homemade)
• Cheddar cheese
• Can of prepared pizza dough (or homemade)
• Most importantly, a skull baking pan

Once you have all your ingredients and tools, you just need to brown the beef, add the sloppy joe sauce and cheddar cheese, cut the pizza dough into 6 squares and place over each skull cavity, fill with sloppy joe meat, seal, and bake! If you need more than six sloppy joe skull bombs you could buy a second pan but they come together so quickly you could probably get away with reusing the same pan.

Welcome to 2024’s #HalloweenTreatsWeek event!

If you’re new here, Welcome! If you’re a returning haunt, welcome back!

#HalloweenTreatsWeek is a yearly Halloween blogging event that is hosted by Angie from Big Bear’s Wife . This spooky event is an online, week-long event that is filled with some frightfully fun Halloween treats and recipes from some fantastic Halloween loving bloggers!

For this year’s 7th annual #HalloweenTreatsWeek event we have 12 hauntingly talented bloggers who are sharing their favorite Halloween recipes throughout the week! You can follow the hashtag #HalloweenTreatsWeek on social media to collect all of these frightful recipes to use at your own Halloween parties and events!

• Cherry Pie Murdered Cinnamon Rolls from Semi-Homemade Recipes
• Mummy Jalapeno Poppers from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Ouija Board Planchette Cookies from Savory Moments
• Pumpkin Spice Blondies from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Antipasto Eyeballs from Cheese Curd In Paradise
• Count Chocula Pop Tarts from Sweet ReciPEAs
• Pumpkin Pear Soup (Spiderweb Soup) from Art of Natural Living
• Jalapeno Ranch Skeleton Cheeseball from Jen Around the World
• Melted Witch Bark from For the Love of Food
• Biscoff No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake from A Day in the Life on the Farm

SKULL SLOPPY JOE BOMBS

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Yield: 3-6 Servings Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cooking Time: 25 Minutes 25 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 15 oz. can of sloppy joe sauce (or homemade)
• 8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
• 13.8 oz. can of prepared pizza dough (or homemade)
• Skull baking pan

Directions

1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef, stirring to break it up into small pieces, and cook until browned, about 3-4 minutes. Add sauce and cheese, stirring until combined. Set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 400℉. Working on a clean surface, roll out dough to a 15x10-inch rectangle. Cut dough into 6 (5x5-inch) squares.
3. Lay one square of dough over each cavity of a nonstick 6-cavity skull-shaped pan. Fill the dough by scooping about 1/3 cup of filling in the center of the dough square (you may have excess filling). Fold sides of dough together and pinch tightly to seal. 
4. Bake in preheated oven until lightly golden, 15-20 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before removing from the pan and  serving.

Source: Adapted from AllRecipes and Food Network.

Can I have a side of Cheetos with my meatloaf? Better yet stuff it inside to make a BBQ Cheetos Meatloaf! It’s cheesy tangy goodness.

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With a long list of recipes on this website that include Cheetos in the ingredient list, National Cheese Doodle Day is a food holiday I don’t like to miss – except I nearly missed it this year! Guys, I literally baked this BBQ Cheetos meatloaf last night after realizing it was coming up only the day before that. Talk about a close call.

I almost phoned it in. But as luck would have it, a coworker gifted me a bag of Cheetos for helping her with something last week. In an effort to not inhale the bag straight up (or maybe dip them in chocolate?), I decided to inhale it in meatloaf form, inspired by my Cheetos Cheeseburgers. My dad is probably shocked that I willingly made meatloaf after a childhood full of hatred for it.

After a quick trip to the grocery store later, and a not so quick cooking time in the oven (add a shorter cook time to the reasons why meatloaf muffins are superior), I had this BBQ Cheetos Meatloaf on the dinner table. Served with a side of roasted broccoli or marinated green beans to make up for the copious amount of Cheetos and cheese in this thing.

But at the same time, are crushed Cheetos really that much worse health-wise than bread crumbs? I would argue that they are basically equal in this situation. Hey, I went for a side of broccoli instead of more Cheetos (or Cheetos mac and cheese), I call that a win. But I may have eaten plenty while I cooked – ha!

BBQ CHEETOS MEATLOAF

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Yield: 6-8 servings Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cooking Time: 1 Hour 1 Hour

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

MEATLOAF

• 2 lb. ground beef
• 4 tsp steak seasoning
• 4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 small onion, grated
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup crushed Cheetos (4 oz. crunchy)
• 6 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

TOPPING

• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 2 tsp mustard

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Add all the ingredients for the meatloaf mixture into a large bowl and gently combine. Spray a loaf pan with nonstick spray. Press meatloaf mixture into the pan.
3. In a medium bowl, combine honey, barbecue sauce, and mustard. Spoon half of it evenly over meatloaf. Bake for 30 minutes, brush top with remaining topping, and bake about 30-40 minutes, or until the internal temperature reads160 degrees F on an instant read thermometer.
4. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Source: Adapted from my Cheddar-BBQ Turkey Meatloaf Muffins.

I love creamy, cheesy macaroni and cheese but add a flavor explosion and I might face plant into it. Such is the case with this roasted tomato macaroni and cheese.

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I know it’s not yet Halloween, but it’s time to kick off Holiday Side Dish Week!

What are your favorite holiday side dishes? I decided to start with my favorite controversial one, macaroni and cheese. Not that the dish itself is the subject of controversy, but it’s inclusion on the holiday dinner table. In my experience it seems to be a regional difference, being more common in the Southeastern states.

Regardless of tradition, I freaking love macaroni and cheese and I think this roasted tomato macaroni and cheese belongs on your holiday dinner menu this year.

I used the base of my favorite macaroni and cheese recipe (the secret is cream cheese) and added homemade roasted tomatoes from my garden. Dude they are fantastic. And this macaroni and cheese is made that much better by their addition.

So how about it, can I convince you to add this roasted tomato macaroni and cheese to your holiday plans? If not there’s a whole slew of other options from my foodie friends listed below.

More Side Dish Recipes:

• Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits from Cheese Curd In Paradise
• Corn Souffle from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes from Blogghetti
• Easy Zucchini Casserole from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Jeweled Rice from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Pomegranate Acorn Squash with Burrata from Palatable Pastime
• Spinach Souffle from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Sri Lankan Spicy Potatoes from Magical Ingredients
• Sweet Chili Candied Pumpkin Seed Deviled Eggs from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Truffle Risotto with Mushrooms and Asparagus from Art of Natural Living

ROASTED TOMATO MACARONI AND CHEESE

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Yield: 6-8 Servings Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cooking Time: 50 Minutes 50 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 8 oz. favorite pasta shape
• 2-1/2 cups whole milk, warmed
• 5 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp dry mustard powder
• 1/2 tsp ground paprika
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 cup chopped roasted tomatoes, plus more for garnish
• 1/4 cup Panko bread crumbs

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 11×7-inch (about 2 quarts) casserole dish and set aside.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions until just barely al-dente (about 1 minute less than recommended cook time). Drain and set aside.
3. Meanwhile, in a large saute pan over medium heat add butter and melt until frothy. Add flour and whisk until smooth. Continue cooking until it begins to bubble and turn golden, about 2-3 minutes. Slowly pour in milk, whisking vigorously, until all the milk is incorporated and mixture is smooth (will clump but keep whisking).
4. Continue to cook over medium heat, whisking regularly, until sauce has thickened slightly, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in mustard powder, paprika, and salt and pepper. Slowly add cheeses (except a 1/2 cup mixture of cheddar-Parmesan), a handful at a time, whisking until melted before adding more. Stir in pasta and tomatoes until evenly coated.
5. Pour into the prepared dish. Sprinkle with reserved cheese, Panko, and reserved tomatoes over top. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until filling is bubbling, then broil for 1-2 minutes or until breadcrumbs are golden brown. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Source: Adapted from my Jalapeno Popper Mac & Cheese.

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Spice up your summer cook outs with a jalapeno popper pasta salad. Made with jalapenos, bacon, cheddar, cream cheese, and Woeber’s smoky bacon mayonnaise.

This post is sponsored by Woeber’s Mustard. I was compensated for this post but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I love a cook out with burgers and hot dogs but it’s not complete without the side dishes – preferably “salads”. Leave it to Americans to term dishes full of starch, such as potato and pasta, as salads. But sure enough they are the most popular side dishes to accompany summer grilled chicken quarters, hot dogs, or hamburgers.

Many people have their own family recipes for either, which are sacred and no other can compare. In my family it’s my dad’s creamy potato salad while in Bob’s family it’s an Italian pasta salad. But of course you know I had to change things up, especially when I had some of Woeber’s Smoky Bacon Mayonnaise on hand.

If you’re from Ohio you may already know that Woeber Mustad Company is a family-owned and operated condiment manufacturer located in Springfield, Ohio since 1905 and their wide range of products (not just mustard) can be found nationwide at Meijer, Walmart, Kroger, Giant Eagle, and Stop & Shop. Don’t have one of those stores near you? Never fear, you can also shop on Woeber’s website.

So if you were armed with Woeber’s smoky bacon mayonnaise, what would you make? My brain went straight to jalapeno popper pasta salad.

Not to be confused with my jalapeno popper mac and cheese but actually inspired by my jalapeno popper potato salad. Funny how you can swap out the potatoes for your preferred pasta shape. Guess that’s the delicious simplicity of these so-called salads!

Jalapeno Popper Pasta Salad Ingredients

• Preferred pasta shape
• Sharp cheddar
• Bacon
• Jalapenos
• Woeber’s smoky bacon mayo
• Cream cheese
• Milk
• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Cayenne pepper
• Smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper
• Red pepper flakes (optional)

JALAPENO POPPER PASTA SALAD

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Cooking Time: 15 Minutes 15 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 1H15M calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 8 oz. Woeber's smoky bacon mayonnaise
• 4 oz. plain cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp ground cayenne pepper
• 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
• 12 oz. preferred pasta shape, cooked and cooled
• 8 oz. sharp cheddar, cubed
• 6 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 2 jalapenos, diced* plus more slices for garnish

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, blend together the mayonnaise, cream cheese, milk, and olive oil until smooth. Stir in the garlic, cayenne, paprika, salt, and pepper until distributed.
2. Add pasta, cheese, bacon and jalapenos to the mayo mixture. Toss gently to combine. Garnish with additional jalapeno sliced, if preferred.
3. Cover bowl and chill in refrigerator for at least an hour over overnight before serving.

Notes

*seeds removed for less heat if desired.

Source: Adapted from my Jalapeno Popper Potato Salad.

Did you make this recipe? I want to see! Tag @THESPIFFYCOOKIE on Instagram and hashtag it #THESPIFFYCOOKIE

What’s better than Frito Pie? Cheetos Pie of course! Made with ground beef, onion, tomato, green chiles, chili beans, corn, taco seasoning, cheddar cheese and obviously Cheetos.

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I’m up to my usual antics, swapping out Fritos or Doritos in a recipe for Cheetos because they are clearly superior. And it’s an excuse to have Cheetos in my house because normally I cannot control myself around them.

I have successfully done this swap already with Cheetos Walking Tacos and Chopped BBQ Ranch Salad with Cheetos so why not a Cheetos pie instead of Fritos Pie? Just in time to sneak onto your menus for Cinco de Mayo in a few days.

Cheetos Pie is a simple two pan meal, cooking up ground beef and onion, then adding taco seasoning, chili beans, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and corn. Spread this mixture over Cheetos in a baking dish, top with cheddar cheese and bake! Then all that’s left is serving it with your favorite taco toppings – reminds me of a walking taco casserole.

The only downfall to using Cheetos instead of Fritos to make Cheetos Pie is that the Cheetos don’t retain as much crunch as the Fritos when baked with moist ingredients. But to be fair the Fritos are not perfectly crispy either in the same scenario so it is only a minor texture change.

What’s next on my Cheetos crusade? At least in the savory realm, I think I need to try my Mom’s Frito Taco Salad with Cheetos. But I have some wild ideas about sweet incorporations as well to add to my list of Cheetos Cookies, Chocolate Covered Cheetos, and Cheetos Marshmallow Crispy Treats. Don’t be scared, haha.

CHEETOS PIE

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Yield: 6 servings Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cooking Time: 35 MInutes 35 MInutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 1 (8 oz.) bag Cheetos
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 (10 oz.) can diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
• 1 (15 oz.) can chili beans
• 1 cup corn kernels*
• 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• Favorite taco toppings

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. Evenly spread the entire bag of Cheetos in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and onion, cooking until meat is no longer pink and onions are soft. Drain excess fat.
4. Stir in taco seasoning until well blended. Add diced tomatoes, beans and corn, mixing until distributed and warmed through. Remove from heat.
5. Spread meat mixture evenly over the Cheetos, then sprinkle the cheese on top.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
7. Serve immediately with your favorite taco toppings.

Notes

*Fresh, frozen, or canned work just fine. If using canned be sure to drain first.

Source: Adapted slightly from Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts.

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