This cheesy and spicy pasta is so creamy and delicious. It takes less than 20 minutes to make, you can enjoy this spicy mac and cheese as a side dish to go alongside any meal. Instead of your classic mac and cheese, this pasta is given a spicy kick with the addition of jalapenos. You can even make this dish to serve at Thanksgiving or Christmas for a different mac and cheese.
The pasta is first cooked according to the package directions. I used small elbow noodles for this, but you can also use any other small-shaped pasta instead. To make the sauce, butter is first melted in a large saucepan over medium heat. Diced jalapenos and minced garlic are cooked in butter until the jalapenos are softened. The remaining ingredients are added and cooked until the sauce has thickened and the cheese has fully melted. Mix the sauce with the cooked pasta.Â
Creamy Jalapeno Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 oz. elbow pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 large jalapeno, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions, drain. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook minced garlic and jalapenos in the butter until softened. Add in flour, and cook for a minute to brown.
- Pour in milk, cheese, and seasonings. Continue to cook over medium heat, while whisking constantly until thickened. Mix sauce with pasta.
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