Description
Gothic Mac & Cheese is a dramatic twist on the classic comfort dish, featuring blood-red beet-stained pasta coated in an inky black activated charcoal cheese sauce. Creamy, bold, and eerie, it’s perfect for Halloween or themed dinners while still delivering familiar cheesy comfort.
Ingredients
1 pound heart-shaped pasta
48 oz beet juice
1 stick unsalted butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
2 cups milk
1 1/4 teaspoons activated charcoal (food-grade)
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (such as Cracker Barrel)
Instructions
- Cook pasta in beet juice until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Whisk in flour, pepper, and a pinch of salt, stirring until roux darkens slightly, 2–3 minutes.
- Gradually pour in milk, whisking constantly until sauce thickens and becomes creamy.
- Stir in activated charcoal until fully incorporated.
- Add shredded cheddar and stir until smooth and combined.
- Transfer pasta to a serving dish and pour black cheese sauce over the top. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use shells, spirals, or elbows instead of heart pasta if preferred.
Add cayenne or hot sauce for a spicy kick.
Mix in smoked gouda or gruyere with cheddar for deeper flavor.
For baked mac, top with black-dyed breadcrumbs and bake at 375°F for 15 minutes.
Food-grade activated charcoal is safe in small amounts and mainly used for color.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
