Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese is super creamy and full of bacon, jalapenos, cream cheese and cheddar cheese. Topped with buttery Panko crumbs, it’s baked in the oven until golden brown.
Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food. This version contains all the components of a jalapeno popper- bacon, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and of course, lots of jalapenos. It’s wonderfully salty and cheesy with a spicy kick.
Equipment Needed
- Box Grater– Mac and cheese tastes best when you shred your own cheese. For this recipe, I shred the cheddar but use pre-shredded mozzarella.
- Pasta Pot- you can boil the pasta in any large pot but this Cusinart Pasta Pot with Straining Cover makes straining the pasta super easy.
Tips For Making Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese
I use cavatappi for this mac and cheese but pretty much any pasta shape will work. Penne, macaroni, and shells are other good choices.
You want to cook your pasta just until al dente. It will cook a little more in the oven.
I use a combination of cheddar cheese and mozzarella which I think is perfect for complementing the cream cheese. You could use Monterey Jack instead of the mozzarella cheese or Pepper Jack if you want to add more heat.
If you want less heat, remove the ribs and seeds from the jalapenos.
The jalapeno pepper is briefly sauteed with some onion and this removes some of the bite from the jalapeno. You could use canned jalapeno or pickled jalapeno instead of fresh.
How To Serve
This Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese works great as a side dish, but it is hearty enough to eat as a main dish. You could leave out the bacon to make it vegetarian.
It’s the ultimate mac and cheese for spicy food lovers!
More Mac and Cheese Recipes
- Bourbon and Bacon Mac and Cheese
- Nacho Mac and Cheese
- Super Creamy Mac and Cheese
- Slow Cooker Ultra Creamy Mac and Cheese
- Chicken Bacon and Ranch Mac and Cheese
- Philly Cheesesteak Mac and Cheese
Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 medium sweet onion,, diced
- 2 to 3 jalapeno peppers,, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 3/4 cups milk
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 6 ounces cream cheese,, softened
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 8 slices bacon,, cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup Panko crumbs
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 pound pasta (elbow, penne, cavatappi),, cooked according to package directions
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Melt butter over medium heat in a Dutch oven. Add onion and jalapeno and cook 3 minutes to soften.
- Add flour and cook and stir for 1 minute.
- Gradually whisk in milk and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer and simmer several minutes to thicken.
- Cut cream cheese in to chunks so it will melt faster and add to Dutch oven. Stir until melted.
- Add mozzarella and stir until melted.
- Add cheddar, remove from heat, and stir until melted.
- Stir in salt and pepper.
- Add pasta and bacon and mix in well. You can reserve some bacon to sprinkle on top if you wish. Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish.
- Combine Panko crumbs and melted butter and sprinkle on top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Perfectly balanced
really like this recipe, and am so glad to have found it. Like Christen, I also love to experiment with ingredients so after making it with bacon, I made it again and used 18oz of chorizo, shredded Mexican quesadilla, and fresh as well as some sautéed jalapenos. I do not strain the chorizo and it adds a wonderful red-orange hue to the dish.
This is so good! It was a hit with everyone! I want to make it again but wondering if I can assemble it together the night before and bake day of to save time?
Great dish! Me personally……I would cut back a little on the cheeses and cream……..but I know the majority of people like their Mac and Cheese real cheesy so 5 stars!!
It was delicious. when I cooked the jalapenos and onion, I also added some garlic. Then with the sauce, I added some cumin , it was very good.