Short Rib Mac and Cheese is the perfect dinner to make with leftover short ribs! A hearty pasta dish full of cheesy goodness, this will be a huge hit!

Leftover Short Rib Pasta

When you are meal planning, it is great to have delicious recipes that you can split between one protein. So if you are cooking short ribs and want a delicious dinner option for the next night, go with my Short Rib Mac and Cheese!

Using leftover short rib meat, this is going to become your favorite way to finish it up. With a rich cheese sauce, al dente pasta, and tender short ribs, this is one of those family-friendly recipes that will have everyone asking for more!

Recipe Notes:

• You can use the same large pot twice or two separate pots to make this recipe.
• Use whatever milk you have on hand. If you use whole milk, your sauce mixture will be richer and if you use skim milk, it will be less so, but still rich because of the heavy cream and cheese. 
• It will take somewhere between 5-10 minutes for the sauce to thicken, but this time may vary based on the stove heat and the pot you are using.  
• If you are preparing this dish to freeze it for later use, consider using a disposable 9×13 baking pan for easy storage in the freezer. 

How To Make Short Rib Mac And Cheese

Short Rib Mac And Cheese Ingredients:

16 oz elbow macaroni noodles
3 cups shredded short rib meat, cooked
8 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups gruyere cheese, shredded, divided
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
Salt and pepper (to taste)

Supplies Needed:

Large saucepan
Large colander
Large or small whisk
Kitchen spoon or wooden spoon
9×13-inch baking dish
Nonstick cooking spray

Directions:

Step 1: Boil the noodles in a large pot on the stove according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the cooked pasta and set it aside. 

Step 2: In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat.

Step 3: Whisk the flour into the butter, and sauté for 1 minute while stirring continuously.

Step 4: Slowly pour the heavy cream and milk into the butter mixture, whisking as you add them.

Step 5: Stir in the ground mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to taste. Simmer on medium-low heat until the mixture thickens, between 5-10 minutes. 

Step 6: Mix in 1 1/2 cups of the gruyere cheese and 2 cups of the cheddar cheese until they are completely melted.

Step 7: Fold in the short rib meat and chopped green onions.

Step 8: Add the cooked noodles to the pot, and stir to combine well.

Step 9: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray. 

Step 10: Pour the pasta mixture into the greased dish and spread it evenly. Top it with the remaining shredded cheese. 

Step 11: Bake for 20 minutes in the hot oven until the cheese sauce is a little bubbly. 

Step 12: Turn the oven to broil, and broil for 2-3 minutes until the top is a nice golden brown.

Allow it to rest in the hot pan for 10 minutes before serving and enjoy!

How To Store Leftover Short Rib Mac And Cheese

Store any leftovers in the baking dish sealed tightly with aluminum foil or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

How To Freeze Your Short Rib Mac And Cheese To Bake Later

To freeze this tasty dish, prepare your mac and cheese according to the directions above, but don’t bake it. Allow the unbaked casserole to fully cool to room temperature (to help avoid condensation and freezer burn). 

Note – you may want to prepare this in a disposable aluminum foil baking pan for easy cleanup, but this can also be prepared and stored in your freezer in a regular baking dish. 

Once cool, wrap the casserole dish tightly in two layers of aluminum foil. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

What If I Don’t Have Leftover Short Ribs?

You can make your own or use an alternative! If you’d like to make your own, here are a few excellent recipes to choose from:

• Smoked Beef Short Ribs
• Slow Cooker Short Ribs
• Braised Short Ribs
• Short Rib Birria

If you’d prefer not to make your own, there are substitutes you can use. Choose from ground beef, ground chicken, shredded chicken, soy crumbles, or meat from any other kind of pork or beef ribs. 

Can I Use Different Cheese In My Mac And Cheese?

If you don’t care for gruyere or cheddar cheeses or don’t have one of them available, there are some easy substitutions you can make for your cheese mixture.

Shredded Swiss, provolone, or mozzarella are good swaps. I do not recommend something like goat cheese if you want the same consistency, but it would still be delicious, so I’m not trying to talk you out of it!

Can I Add Anything Else To My Short Rib Mac and Cheese?

Yes! The two easiest things that you can add to this fantastic recipe are either spinach or peas. You can add either raw or cooked spinach (making sure to squeeze out any water if it was frozen) or cooked peas to the pot mixture after you have melted the cheese and before adding the short rib meat. 

Are You Looking For More Easy Dinner Recipes? Here Are Some Of My Favorites:

• Hot Honey Shrimp (Only 15 Minutes!)
• Ham And Spinach Pasta Skillet
• Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
• Potato Chip Chicken Drumsticks

Granitestone Blue Pots and Pans Set Nonstick, 6 Stackable Piece Cooking Pots Set, Kitchen Pots, Non Stick Coating, 5qt 3qt & 1.5qt Pots with Lids, Stay Cool Handles Dishwasher Safe 100% Toxin FreeAmazon Basics Stainless Steel Wire Whisk Set – 3-PieceCollapsible Colander Set of 3 – Heat Resistant Washing and Draining of Vegetables Fruits Pasta – Perfect for Kitchen and Travel Use (3PCS-Blue)OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Wooden Spoon Set,BrownOXO Good Grips Glass 3 Qt Baking Dish with LidPyrex Basics 3 Quart Oblong Glass Baking Dish, Clear 9 x 13 inch (Set of 2)

Yield: 8 Servings

Short Rib Mac And Cheese

Print

Short Rib Mac and Cheese is the perfect dinner to make with leftover short ribs! A hearty pasta dish full of cheesy goodness, this will be a huge hit!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Additional Time 10 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 16 oz elbow macaroni noodles
• 3 cups shredded short rib meat, cooked
• 8 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 cups gruyere cheese, shredded, divided
• 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
• 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

Instructions

1. Boil the noodles in a large pot on the stove until al dente. Drain the cooked pasta and set it aside. 
2. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat.
3. Whisk the flour into the butter, and sauté for 1 minute while stirring continuously.
4. Slowly pour the heavy whipping cream and milk into the pot, whisking as you add them.
5. Stir in the ground mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste. Simmer until the mixture thickens, between 5-10 minutes. 
6. Mix in 1 1/2 cups of the gruyere cheese and 2 cups of the cheddar cheese until they are completely melted.
7. Fold in the short rib meat and chopped green onions.
8. Add the cooked noodles to the pot, and stir to combine well.
9. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray. 
10. Pour the pasta mixture into the greased dish and spread it evenly. Top it with the remaining shredded cheese. 
11. Bake for 20 minutes in the hot oven until it is a little bubbly. 
12. Turn the oven to broil, and broil for 2-3 minutes until the top is a nice golden brown.
13. Allow it to rest for 10 minutes before serving and enjoy!

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1025Total Fat: 79gSaturated Fat: 44gTrans Fat: 3gUnsaturated Fat: 29gCholesterol: 269mgSodium: 698mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 1gSugar: 5gProtein: 49g

This calculation is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a doctor or dietitian. This calculator is a guide, but makes no guarantee of being exact or fully accurate.