Mac & Cheese Burger

Inspired by The Ainsworth

Ingredients:

Mac & Cheese:

  • 1/2 lb. elbow noodles

  • 1 cup whole milk (or half & half)

  • 8 oz. cream cheese, cubed

  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese

  • 1/2 Fontina cheese (you can substitute any other melty cheese!)

  • 1 pinch cayenne (feel free to add in some hot sauce for an extra kick!)

Mac & Cheese Patty:

  • 1 cup mac & cheese

  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour

  • 2 eggs, beaten

  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (more as needed)

  • Vegetable oil for frying

Mac & Cheese Burger:

  • 2 sesame seed buns

  • 2 8 oz. Kobe beef burger patties (use any blend you like!)

  • 2 slices sharp cheddar cheese

  • 2 fried mac & cheese patties

  • 1-2 cups mac & cheese

  • 4 tbsp. sriracha mayo (optional)

Directions:

Mac & Cheese:

  1. Add milk to a sauce pan, bring to a boil and then simmer over low heat until reduced by half. Whisk in cream cheese, cheddar, Fontina and cayenne until creamy and smooth. Add a few more splashes of milk for a creamier consistency.

  2. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add elbow noodles and boil for about 5 minutes until fully cooked.

  3. Strain and stir the elbow noodles together with the cheese sauce and set aside.

Mac & Cheese Patty:

  1. Place a round cookie cutter (about 4 inches in diameter) on a baking sheet or tray (make sure that it is small enough to fit inside of the freezer). Place a few spoonfuls of mac & cheese inside of the cookie cutter (about one inch high) and let cool. Remove the cookie cutter and repeat for the second mac & cheese patty. Cover the tray with plastic wrap and freeze for 1-2 hours so that the patties will hold their shape when frying.

  2. Remove the frozen mac & cheese patties from the plastic wrap and coat with flour, egg wash and breadcrumbs (in that order).

  3. Heat the vegetable oil (2-3 inches deep) in a heavy-bottomed pot to about 350°F. Throw a pinch of flour into the oil - if it begins to sizzle, the oil is ready for frying. Place one mac & cheese patty at a time into the oil and fry for about 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown in color. Remove from the oil and place on a wire rack to let cool.

Mac & Cheese Burger:

  1. On a grill pan over medium-high heat, grill the burger patties for about 3 minutes per side until they are cooked to your preferred temperature.

  2. While you are grilling the patties, toast the sesame seed buns. Once the burger patties are cooked, assemble your burger with the remaining ingredients and serve!