#Manfoodweek and the last of my Father's Day menu for the week is one of those go big or go home type of meals. It can be summed up in two words "fat kid-tacular" as stated and copyrighted by my boyfriend who when asked to help choose the pictures stated, "It doesn't matter. They are all amazing." For those of you who don't know him, that says a lot - because he never ever tells me when he likes or dislikes a meal. Ever.
Sometimes my mind wanders, especially when there is leftover mac and cheese in the fridge. My inner fat kid whispers inside of me the guilt ridden things I could do with all that leftover ooey gooey gluttony. It's moments like these when I sneak quietly into the kitchen and unleash some magic.
I put dinner on the table without saying a word, knowing that this grilled mac and cheese with pulled pork would be met with wide eyes of shock and horror.
No one in their right mind would want to eat carb on cheese covered carb with some bbq pork shoved in the middle. Because I admit, I had to be out of my own mind to create such a thing. And yet, dinner disappeared in silence and leftovers were consumed within the next few days.
With the promise that only lettuce and broth were on the menu for the rest of the week.
"The Manwich" - Grilled Mac and Cheese with Pulled Pork
Adapted from Food Network Magazine April 2011
Ingredients:
1 stick unsalted butter; softened- 6 tbs mayo
- 4 cups prepared macaroni and cheese, warmed
- 2 onions, thinly sliced
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 2 cups prepared pulled pork
- 8 slices buttermilk or white bread
- 12 slices sharp cheddar cheese
Preparation:
Put 6 tbs butter and the mayo in the bowl of a stand mixer; beat with the paddle attachment until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Set aside.
Spread the macaroni and cheese in an 8-inch-square baking dish to abut ¾ inch thick. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until firm, about 45 minutes. Cut the macaroni and cheese into squares that are slightly smaller then the bread slices.
Meanwhile, melt the remaining 2 tbs butter in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until caramelized, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Combine the barbecue sauce and pulled pork in a saucepan over low heat and cook until warmed through, about 5 minutes.
Generously spread the butter-mayo mix on one side of each bread slice. Slip over half of the bread slices; layer 1 slice of cheddar, 1 macaroni-and-cheese square and another slice of cheddar on each. Top each with one-quarter of the pulled pork and caramelized onions and another slice of cheddar. Top with the remaining bread slice, butter-side up.
Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-low heat. Working in batches, cook the sandwich until the cheese melts and the bread is golden, about 5 minutes per side.
I added bacon. My thought was that this was already so bad for me that bacon really wouldn't add any more build up to my arteries than what I was already getting myself into.
Yeah, this grilled mac and cheese makes Paula Deen and all her sticks of butter looks like a choir of angels.
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
This is serious man food... but I can't imagine not liking it myself:-)
kitchenarian says
Why is it I always love the recipes you categorize as fat kid friendly?! This looks so completely over the top decadent that I know I would love it and the men in my house would love me forever if I fixed this. Great post.
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts says
WOW! There really isn't a whole lot to say about this, just looking on in awe.
RavieNomNoms says
Haha, my boyfriend would gobble this up in no time!! He is ALWAYS asking for mac and cheese and look at the brilliant idea you had! Carb on Carbs!! Loving it Kita!
Steph@stephsbitebybite says
Oh Kita!! This is the best thign I've seen all day!! Now I feel like I'm being tortured!
Fresh and Foodie says
Good lord, girl! I gotta stop reading this blog or else I'll be 500 pounds before I know it!
Kate@Diethood.com says
Oh WOW! This is definitely man's food!! Drool...
charishma says
i just love anything with cheese.this looks soooooooooooooo good.mouth watering.cheese can make you go crazy
Jessica says
Came across your blog on foodbuzz & am your newest follower!!!
- Jessica @
Vicki @ Wilde in the Kitchen says
That sandwich looks amazing, I would have eaten it very happily as well! Great job on man food week! I'm sure your man is very fat and happy right now! 🙂 Bring on the lettuce!
Belinda @zomppa says
Oh, gosh, this I totally stand behind!
Jenny @ Savour the Senses says
Ah yes! I have had this on my list of things to make for a while now! I saw it on Food Network from a grilled cheese food truck. Awesome that you made it, now I know I'm not the only girl wanting to eat a heart attack sandwich haha!
Eliot says
So, who do I need to send a check to every time I use “fat kid-tacular”?????
amanda @ fake ginger says
Omg, my husband would fall out of his chair if I put this in front of him!
Chef Dennis says
oh now that's just evil, I would have loved to join you for lunch for one of those sandwiches....just a note of warning the chef is a messy eater...sigh, my wife would have had to hose me down after I devoured a few of those sandwiches!! I love pulled pork and of course mac and cheese is a given! Great combination!
Parsley Sage says
...all it needs is some crispy bacon.
JESUS, girl thats one sexy looking manwich. Your brain is awesome.
Cassie @ Bake Your Day says
That looks heavenly! My husband just said "mmm, yummy" when looking at it...manwich it is! 🙂
Jenny (VintageSugarcube) says
OK! That is seriously the best looking sammie I've ever seen in my whole entire life. Kuuuuudos Kita!!! XO
Jenny (VintageSugarcube) says
That is honestly the best looking sammie I've ever seen in my whole entire life. Kuuuuudos Kita!! XO
The Teenage Taste says
I need this sandwich in my life...it looks so good. Mmmmmmm!
Liz says
I would never have put this combination together, but I highly approve! Wow!
Mike@The Culinary Lens says
I was trying to come up with something funny to say about this cacophony of carbs but I cannot top "Yeah, this makes Paula Deen and all her sticks of butter looks like a choir of angels." LOL love it.
I am sure this tastes scarily good
Jun says
A total manwich. But somehow it's so mouth-watering!
Lisa says
Kita,
Your blog is absolutely gorgeous. I'm so used to seeing many pastel'ish' food blogs, and yours pops vibrantly! Love it! That said, also love your write-ups, your gorgeous photographs, and most importantly, the amazing food and recipes, such as this dream of a sandwich. It should be illegal..but in such a good, good way 🙂 Must make it soon, after a week of light eating lol
Yadi I. @ShopCookMake says
Looks heavenly!
Julia says
oh hell. Fat-kid-tacular this is!!!!!
Elodie Jane Amora says
Interesting recipe, but yum! 🙂
Ashley says
My boyfriend just left on a 9 month deployment (our first deployment) & I'm trying to cope by learning to cook delicious food I can make for him when he gets back. This is definitely something I'm going to have to make, he'll be all over this.
Kita says
These are the comments that make me totally happy that I do this. Thank you 🙂
Tammy says
How weird! I live in Wisconsin and was just looking at a local restaurant's menu (Bluephies) and they have something like this. A grilled cheese with mac and cheese, cheddar, bbq pork and carmelized onions. You have bacon on yours, so I'd say you are one up on them. lol 🙂 Also, I love your site, I came across it from a recipe Pinterest.