Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese

The cheesiest jalapeño popper mac and cheese with extra creamy sauce, chunks of bacon and a crispy, breadcrumb topping. This is the mac and cheese recipe that dreams are made of.

Ingredients

Full recipe with amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Butter. 
• Flour. 
• Milk. 
• Cream. Heavy/Whipping cream. Half and half can also be used.
• Cream cheese. 
• Mozzarella cheese. 
• Cheddar cheese. Gruyere, Jack cheese, Havarti or Raclette can also be used.
• Salt and pepper. 
• Pasta. Use any short pasta shape of your choice.
• Fresh breadcrumbs. Panko or dried can also be used.
• Dried oregano. 
• Jalapeños.
• Bacon. 

How to make jalapeño popper mac and cheese

1. Make the cheese sauce: Melt the butter in a saucepan then stir in the flour. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring, then pour in the milk and cream. Allow to simmer over low heat, stirring regularly, for a 8-10 minutes until the sauce is thick and smooth. Stir in the cheeses and season with salt and pepper.
2. Make the breadcrumb topping: Combine the breadcrumbs with the oregano and season with salt and pepper. Add a small handful of grated cheese.
3. Assemble: Stir the cooked pasta through the cheese sauce then add the jalapeños and crispy bacon. Transfer to a baking dish then top with the breadcrumbs.
4. Bake: Place in the oven and allow to bake for 15-20 minutes until golden and bubbling. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes then serve.

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Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese

The cheesiest jalapeño popper mac and cheese with extra creamy sauce, chunks of bacon and a crispy, breadcrumb topping.

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Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baked mac and cheese, Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese, mac and cheese

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Servings: 6 - 8

Calories: 419kcal

Author: Alida Ryder

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup flour
• 1-2 cups milk
• 1 cup cream
• ½ cup cream cheese room temperature
• 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

For the breadcrumbs

• 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• ½ cup grated cheese

For the Mac and cheese

• 500 g (1lb) cooked pasta
• 1-2 jalapeños finely chopped
• 8 strips streaky bacon cooked and roughly chopped

Instructions

• Melt the butter in a saucepan then stir in the flour.
• Cook for 2 minutes, stirring, then pour in the milk and cream.
• Allow to simmer over low heat, stirring regularly, for a 8-10 minutes until the sauce is thick and smooth.
• Stir in the cheeses and season with salt and pepper.
•  Combine the breadcrumbs with the oregano and season with salt and pepper. Add a small handful of grated cheese. 
• Stir the cooked pasta through the cheese sauce then add the jalapeños and crispy bacon. Transfer to a baking dish then top with the breadcrumbs. 
• Place in the oven and allow to bake for 15-20 minutes until golden and bubbling.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 626mg | Potassium: 199mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 979IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 313mg | Iron: 2mg