Dirty Mac

Image courtesy of Food & Wine. Photography by Kate Winslow.

Before Jack Bool moved to Los Angeles, the Bay Area native would spend many an afternoon tucked away in a local Oakland restaurant. There, the photographer, who is best known for his creative storytelling approach, enjoyed equally innovative bowls of macaroni and cheese, followed by a fudge brownie and iced tea. “Some were bold, some classic, some dirty, and some allegedly wholesome,” he tells Family Style of his cheesy, go-to meal. The twist on the classic pasta that Bools keeps up his sleeve to this day? A bowl topped with pineapple, jalapeños, and Lay’s potato chips. “This mac had it all,” he recalls.

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Ingredients

• 1 box elbow pasta, cooked according to box’s directions
• 1 stick of unsalted butter
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 8 ounce pack of sharp cheddar cheese, cubed
• 8 ounce pack of pepper jack cheese, cubed
• 4 slices of American cheese
• 3 jalapeños, chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 8 ounce can of chopped pineapple, drained
• 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• Salt to taste
• 1 tablespoon cold butter
• 1 small bag of Lay’s potato chips
• 1 green onion, chopped
• 3 bacon strips, cooked crisp

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. 
2. Microwave the milk for one minute.
3. In a large pan, melt the butter. 
4. Add the jalapeños and bay leaf. 
5. Then, add the flour (to make a roux).
6. Cook the mixture until the flour is a light golden brown and there are no more lumps (about 3 to 5 minutes).
7. Slowly whisk in the milk and cook until thickened (about 5 minutes).
8. Add red pepper flakes, black pepper, and cubed cheese. 
9. Stir until the cheese has completely melted and the sauce is a creamy consistency.
10. Take out the bay leaf. 
11. Add in cooked pasta and chopped pineapple.
12. Transfer the macaroni and cheese to a lightly greased baking dish and top it with a smashed bag of lays and slices of cold butter (for a crispy crust).
13. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
14. Chop bacon into bits and sprinkle on top with diced green onions.
15. Serve hot and enjoy!