Korean-Style Turkey Mac & Cheese (Print version)

Creamy mac and cheese meets sweet-spicy Korean turkey in this comforting fusion dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta & Cheese

01 - 10 oz elbow macaroni
02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
04 - 2 cups whole milk
05 - 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
06 - ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
07 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
08 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
09 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Korean-Style Turkey

10 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
11 - 14 oz ground turkey
12 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
13 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
14 - 2 tablespoons gochujang
15 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
16 - 1 tablespoon honey
17 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
18 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

→ Garnish

19 - 3 scallions, thinly sliced
20 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds, optional

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
02 - While the pasta cooks, heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink, approximately 5 minutes.
03 - Add minced garlic and grated ginger to the turkey and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Stir in gochujang, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture thickens and develops a glossy appearance. Remove from heat and keep warm.
05 - In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute to create a roux.
06 - Gradually whisk in the milk, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
07 - Remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
08 - Combine the drained macaroni with the cheese sauce, mixing thoroughly to coat all pasta evenly.
09 - Divide the mac and cheese among serving bowls. Top each portion with a generous spoonful of the Korean turkey crumbles.
10 - Garnish with sliced scallions and sesame seeds if desired before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The creamy cheese sauce is ridiculously silky and holds up beautifully against the bold Korean flavors without feeling confused or clashing.
  • Ground turkey cooks in under 10 minutes, so the whole dish comes together faster than you'd think for something this impressive.
  • It's a conversation starter that feels like you spent way more time in the kitchen than you actually did.
02 -
  • Don't skip the roux stage or the milk whisking—lumpy cheese sauce is a heartbreak that's easy to prevent by going slowly and stirring constantly.
  • The turkey topping should simmer just long enough to thicken but not so long that it dries out, watching for that glossy, jammy texture is your cue.
03 -
  • Keep your cheese off the heat after you melt it into the sauce, high heat can make it grainy or cause the fats to separate from the milk.
  • The sesame oil at the end of the turkey topping is worth not skipping, it adds a toasty depth that makes people ask what that amazing smell is.
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