Sloppy Jessica, or Mac-and-Cheese-Chili Pizza on a Bun Recipe
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Mac-and-Cheese-Chili Pizza on a Bun. [Photograph: Nick Kindelsperger]
Inspired by a TV sitcom, the Sloppy Jessica is a gloriously greasy, wonderfully messy beast of macaroni-and-cheese chili stuffed into a pizza-style bun that's dripping with melted mozzarella cheese.
- While it seems like three recipes in one, this clever, streamlined creation is actually just a sandwich of chili mac with melted cheese.
- By omitting beans and cheese sauce, the chili mac can be made in under an hour.
- Yield:serves 4
- Active time: 30 minutes
- Total time:50 minutes
- Rated:
Ingredients
- Kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1 green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, chopped (about 3/4 cup)
- 3 medium garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, roughly chopped, juice reserved
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce (like Frank’s)
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 4 French bread rolls
- 1 pound dry whole-milk mozzarella, grated
Directions
-
1.
Preheat oven to 425°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
-
2.
Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large saucepan over high heat until shimmering. Add onion and green pepper and cook, stirring often, until soft, about 2 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, red pepper flakes, cumin, and oregano. Stir continuously until very fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add beef and cook until no longer pink, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon to break up the meat, about 7 minutes. Add tomatoes and juice and the hot sauce, stir well, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a steady simmer and cook until thickened, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
-
3.
Cook pasta in the boiling water according to the directions on the packaging. Drain in a colander and then stir into the chili mac. Cover and keep warm.
-
4.
Slice the rolls in half horizontally. Place rolls, cut-side up, on a large baking sheet covered with aluminum foil. Sprinkle cut sides with grated cheese. Place rolls in the oven and cook until cheese melts and rolls are toasted, about 8 minutes.
-
5.
Spoon the chili mac onto the bottom rolls and crown with the top piece. Serve.
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