Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 package Bacon, Cooked and chopped into small 1/2" pieces 16 oz
- 1 box rotini pasta, 16oz
- 4 TBSP butter, unsalted
- 4 each jalapenos, seeded and diced
- 1/2 each small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 8 oz shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
- 8 oz shredded monterey jack cheese
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper, ground
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
Panko Topping:
- 1 cup panko bread cumbs
- 2 TBSP butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Lightly grease a 9×13 pan and set aside. Boil a large stockpot of water and cook pasta until 1 minute shy of al dente. Drain and toss pasta in a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Place bacon in a single layer on a sheet tray and bake in oven for 15-20 minutes or until crispy. Let cool and then chop into 1/2" pieces.
- Add butter to a large saucepan and heat over MED heat. Add jalapeรฑos, garlic and onion, and cook approximately 5 minutes.
- Add flour and stir to combine. Cook 1-2 minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste. Pour in heavy cream and milk, whisking to combine so lumps from the flour mixture are gone. Cook several minutes until thickened, stirring very often.
- Add in cream cheese and stir until it's melted into the sauce. Add in the shredded sharp white cheddar and monterey jack cheese, stirring until it's all melted. Add spices (salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder and paprika) and stir. If you notice the sauce getting too thick, add in a splash of milk and stir.
- In a large mixing bowl, add cooked pasta, cheese sauce, and the bacon. Stir it all together and pour into prepared baking dish.
- Prepare the panko topping: in a small mixing bowl, mix together the pano and melted butter until thoroughly coated. Sprink Panko topping over top of the mac and cheese.
- Bake Uncovered for 20 minutes or until the panko on top is golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let cool for about 10 minutes.
- Bone Apple Teeth!
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