Pickle Fix Mac and Cheese (Printable Version)

Grilled sandwich filled with mac and cheese, cheddar, provolone, and pickles for a tangy, satisfying bite.

# What You'll Need:

→ Mac and Cheese

01 - 1 cup elbow macaroni, uncooked
02 - 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
03 - 1 cup whole milk
04 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Sandwich Assembly

08 - 8 slices sourdough bread or white sandwich bread
09 - 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
10 - 1 cup dill pickle slices, patted dry
11 - 4 slices provolone cheese or mozzarella cheese
12 - Extra shredded sharp cheddar cheese, optional

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook elbow macaroni until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
02 - In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter over medium heat. Whisk in all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
03 - Gradually whisk in whole milk to the roux, stirring constantly until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
04 - Stir in shredded sharp cheddar cheese, salt, and black pepper. Mix until smooth and cheese is fully melted.
05 - Fold the cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce and stir until the pasta is evenly coated. Remove from heat.
06 - Lay out bread slices and spread a thin layer of softened butter on one side of each slice.
07 - Arrange 4 bread slices, buttered side down, on a clean work surface. Top each with 1 slice provolone or mozzarella cheese, a generous scoop of mac and cheese, and a layer of dill pickle slices.
08 - Top each with another bread slice, buttered side up. If desired, sprinkle extra shredded cheddar cheese over the outer surface for a crisp cheesy crust.
09 - Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Cook sandwiches in batches, pressing gently with a spatula, for 3 to 4 minutes per side until bread is golden brown and cheese has melted.
10 - Transfer sandwiches to a cutting board, rest briefly, slice, and serve warm.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Uses classic pantry staples found in most kitchens
  • Ready in well under 40 minutes start to finish
  • Crowd pleasing for both adults and kids
  • Perfect for leftover mac and cheese
  • The pickles add brightness that cuts through the richness
02 -
  • Vegetarian friendly option for an indulgent treat
  • Great use for leftover mac and cheese
  • Flexible with bread or cheese choices
03 -
  • Use freshly grated cheese for the best melt store grated can be dry
  • Butter the bread all the way to the edges for even crunch
  • Keep heat at medium so bread gets crisp as cheese melts inside
  • After trying variations do not skip patting pickles dry for that essential snap and no sogginess

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