Name: Holiday Leftover Mac & Cheese
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: US
Ingredients: 0.5 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni; 4 tablespoons butter, divided; 0.5 large onion, chopped; 2 cloves garlic, chopped; 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped; 3 stalks celery, chopped; 1 cup leftover shredded turkey; 1 pinch dried parsley, or to taste; 1 pinch dried sage, or to taste; 1 pinch dried rosemary, or to taste; 1 pinch ground thyme, or to taste; Salt and ground black pepper to taste; 2 tablespoons chicken broth, or as needed; 2 tablespoons flour; 1 tablespoon milk, or more as needed; 0.5 cup shredded Cheddar cheese; 0.25 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese; 2 tablespoons shredded Gouda cheese; 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese; 2 tablespoons seasoned bread crumbs

Transform your Thanksgiving bounty into the ultimate comfort dish! This decadent mac and cheese is infused with the savory flavors of turkey and seasonal vegetables, all enveloped in a rich, creamy cheese sauce and topped with a golden, crispy crust.

Follow The Directions

01

Step

Preheat: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.

02

Step

Cook Pasta (8 minutes): Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite. Drain pasta, then rinse with cold water and drain again. Set aside.

03

Step

Sauté Vegetables and Turkey (9-15 minutes): While the pasta is cooking, melt 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add carrots and celery; saute until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add leftover turkey and cook until warm and flavors are incorporated, about 1 minute. Season with parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Add broth if mixture seems dry. Remove from the heat and set aside.

04

Step

Prepare Cheese Sauce (5-8 minutes): Melt remaining butter in a large saucepan over medium (or slightly higher) heat. Whisk in flour; cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture becomes paste-like and light golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in milk (about 1 to 2 tablespoons); keep stirring to make sure flour is blended and there are no lumps. Cook until roux is brown and very fragrant. Add Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Gouda, and Parmesan cheeses; cook until sauce thickens and the cheese melts. Slowly add enough milk so the roux/cheese mix is creamy; just add it in small increments so it's not too juicy.

05

Step

Combine and Bake: Add macaroni to the cheese sauce and mix to combine. Add the turkey mixture. Mix well and transfer to a baking dish. Top with bread crumbs.

06

Step

Broil (5-10 minutes): Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler. Place mac and cheese under the broiler until browned.