Korean-Style Turkey Mac & Cheese (Printable)

Creamy cheesy pasta topped with sweet-spicy Korean ground turkey, scallions, and sesame seeds.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz elbow macaroni

→ Sauce

02 - 2 cups whole milk
03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
04 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
05 - 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
06 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
07 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Korean-Style Turkey

09 - 1 pound ground turkey
10 - 2 tablespoons gochujang
11 - 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
12 - 1 tablespoon honey
13 - 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
14 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
15 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
16 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

→ Garnish

17 - 4 scallions, thinly sliced
18 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

# Directions:

01 - Cook elbow macaroni in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually add milk while whisking constantly until smooth and slightly thickened, approximately 3-4 minutes.
03 - Lower heat and stir in cheddar and mozzarella cheeses until melted and smooth. Season with salt and black pepper. Keep warm over low heat.
04 - In a separate skillet over medium-high heat, add sesame oil. Sauté garlic and ginger for 1 minute until fragrant. Add ground turkey and cook while breaking up meat until no longer pink, approximately 5-6 minutes.
05 - Stir in gochujang, soy sauce, and honey. Cook for 2-3 minutes until turkey is well-coated and sauce is slightly thickened. Add red pepper flakes if desired. Remove from heat.
06 - Combine cooked macaroni with cheese sauce, stirring until fully coated and creamy. Fold in half of the turkey mixture.
07 - Divide mac and cheese among serving bowls. Top each with remaining turkey crumbles, scallions, and sesame seeds.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes fancy but comes together in under 45 minutes, so you can impress people without the stress.
  • The gochujang adds this addictive depth that makes people ask for seconds before they even realize what's different.
  • Ground turkey keeps it lighter than traditional mac and cheese, so you don't feel weighed down afterward.
02 -
  • Don't let that cheese sauce sit too long without heat or it will break and get grainy—keep it warm on low, and if it does look weird, add a splash of milk and whisk it back to life.
  • Gochujang is spicy, but the amount in this recipe is really approachable—start with less if you're sensitive to heat, and you can always stir more in.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for 30 seconds before using—the difference in flavor is worth the tiny bit of effort.
  • Don't walk away while you're making the cheese sauce; a moment of distraction can turn creamy into broken, so stay focused and keep whisking.
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