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Hot Cheetos Mac and Cheese

Featured in: Satisfying Hearty Mains

Elbow pasta gets tossed in a rich cheese sauce made with cheddar and Gruyere, then baked with a crunchy topping of crushed Flamin' Hot Cheetos and breadcrumbs. Serves 6 in 55 minutes.

Tags: #pasta #cheese

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Clare Greco
Updated on Wed, 10 Sep 2025 22:43:06 GMT
Hot Cheetos Mac and Cheese
Hot Cheetos Mac and Cheese | recipesbyclare.com
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Hot Cheetos Mac and Cheese combines a homemade sharp-cheddar and Gruyere sauce with a crunchy panko and crushed spicy-cheese-snack topping. The elbows cook al dente first, then bake briefly in a 9×9-inch dish so the sauce stays creamy beneath the crisp red crumbs.

The recipe serves 6 in about 55 minutes, with 5 minutes of preparation and 50 minutes of cooking. The assembled dish bakes uncovered at 350°F for 15 minutes.

Hot Cheetos Mac and Cheese Ingredients

Elbow pasta, butter, flour, milk, cheddar, Gruyere, panko, crushed spicy cheese snacks, and seasonings
Elbow pasta, butter, flour, milk, cheddar, Gruyere, panko, crushed spicy cheese snacks, and seasonings | Recipes by Clare
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For the pasta and sauce, use 8 ounces elbow pasta, 5 tablespoons butter, ⅓ cup all-purpose flour, 3 cups whole milk, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, and ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika.

Add 2 cups sharp cheddar shredded from an 8-ounce block and 1 cup Gruyere shredded from a 4-ounce block. For topping, use ¼ cup panko, 1 cup finely crushed Flamin' Hot Cheetos, 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, and ¼ teaspoon salt.

If you enjoy this recipe, you may also like Cream Cheese Bacon Stuffed Doritos Chicken.

How to Make Hot Cheetos Mac and Cheese

Four stages showing elbow pasta and spicy crumb topping prepared, milk sauce thickened, cheeses and pasta combined, and mac and cheese baked with red crumbs
Four stages showing elbow pasta and spicy crumb topping prepared, milk sauce thickened, cheeses and pasta combined, and mac and cheese baked with red crumbs | Recipes by Clare
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  1. Boil salted water and cook elbows al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix panko, crushed Cheetos, 2 tablespoons melted butter, and ¼ teaspoon salt.
  3. Over low heat, melt 5 tablespoons butter. Add flour and stir 2 to 3 minutes.
  4. Slowly stir in milk until the sauce coats a spoon. Add paprika, cayenne, and ½ teaspoon salt.
  5. On low, add cheddar and Gruyere gradually, then coat the pasta.
  6. Transfer to a greased 9×9-inch dish. Reserve ½ cup cheese for top, then add spicy crumbs. Bake uncovered 15 minutes.

Cook Eight Ounces Elbows Al Dente

Prepare the Red Crunchy Topping

Cook the Roux for Two to Three Minutes

Whisk in Milk Slowly

Season the Sauce and Reduce to Low

Add Cheddar and Gruyere Gradually

Coat the Drained Pasta

Finished baked sharp cheddar and Gruyere macaroni with crunchy red spicy Cheetos topping
Finished baked sharp cheddar and Gruyere macaroni with crunchy red spicy Cheetos topping | recipesbyclare.com
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Assemble in a Greased Nine-Inch Dish

Bake Uncovered for Fifteen Minutes

Storage and Reheating

Conclusion

Cook 8 ounces elbows al dente, about 7 minutes. Mix panko, crushed Cheetos, melted topping butter, and salt. Cook 5 tablespoons butter with flour for 2 to 3 minutes, slowly add milk, season, then melt cheddar and Gruyere gradually over low. Add pasta, move to a greased 9×9 dish, top with reserved cheese and crumbs, and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ How long should the elbow pasta cook?

Cook it al dente, about 7 minutes or according to its package.

→ Why add the cheese over low heat?

Low heat helps cheddar and Gruyere melt smoothly without the sauce breaking.

→ How long does the assembled mac and cheese bake?

Bake uncovered at 350°F for 15 minutes.

→ How many servings does this make?

It serves 6.

4.50 from 164 votes

Hot Cheetos Mac and Cheese

Preparation Time:
5 Minutes
Cook Time:
50 Minutes
Total Cooking Time:
55 Minutes
Number of Servings:
6
Hot Cheetos Mac and Cheese
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Creamy homemade mac and cheese made with two cheeses and topped with crushed Flamin' Hot Cheetos for a spicy crunch.

Ingredients You'll Need

  • Pasta and Cheese Sauce

  • Cheese

  • Spicy Topping

How to Make It

1.

1. Cook the Pasta: Fill a large pot with water, add 1 tablespoon of salt, and bring to a boil. Add the elbow pasta and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes or according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

2.

2. Prepare Oven and Topping: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, mix together the panko breadcrumbs, crushed Cheetos, melted butter, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Set this spicy topping mixture aside.

3.

3. Make the Roux: In a large pot over low heat, melt the 5 tablespoons of butter. Add the flour and stir constantly for 2-3 minutes until it forms a paste-like consistency and starts to smell nutty.

4.

4. Create the Sauce Base: Slowly pour in the milk while stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Continue cooking and stirring until the sauce thickens enough that you can run your finger through it on the back of a spoon and it leaves a clear line.

5.

5. Season the Sauce: Stir in the smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Reduce heat to low to keep the sauce from breaking.

6.

6. Add the Cheese: Add the shredded cheddar and Gruyere cheeses in small handfuls, stirring between each addition until mostly melted. The cheese doesn't need to be completely smooth at this stage.

7.

7. Combine with Pasta: Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and stir until every piece is well coated with the creamy mixture.

8.

8. Assemble and Bake: Pour the cheesy pasta into a greased 9x9-inch baking dish. Reserve 1/2 cup of cheese to sprinkle on top, then add the Cheetos breadcrumb topping. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the topping is golden and crunchy.

Extra Information

  1. This elevated mac and cheese combines a rich, homemade cheese sauce with the bold crunch of Flamin' Hot Cheetos.
  2. Using both cheddar and Gruyere creates a complex, sophisticated cheese flavor that balances the spicy topping.
  3. The key to a smooth cheese sauce is adding the cheese gradually over low heat and stirring constantly.
  4. Crushing the Cheetos into fine crumbs ensures they distribute evenly and create a uniform crunchy topping.

Essential Tools

  • Large pot for pasta
  • Large pot for cheese sauce
  • 9x9-inch baking dish
  • Wire whisk
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Colander

Allergy Warnings

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains dairy (butter, milk, cheddar cheese, Gruyere cheese)
  • Contains gluten (flour, pasta, panko breadcrumbs)
  • Contains corn (Cheetos)

Nutrition Details (Per Portion)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 573
  • Total Fat: 35 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 45 g
  • Protein: 22 g