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Simple Recipes for Every Day

Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese

Baked jalapeño popper Macaroni and cheese in a baking dish with a spoon
  • Serves: 10
  • Prep Time:  10 min
  • Cook Time:  45 min

Ingredients

  • 1 lb elbow macaroni, cooked
  • 2 sticks (1 cup) butter, divided
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 5 cups Simple Truth Whole Milk
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 3 cups white cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
  • 4 cups pepper jack cheese, shredded, divided
  • 8 oz Simple Truth Cream cheese, cubed
  • 1 lb Simple Truth Bacon, cooked, chopped
  • 8 jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped, plus more for topping
  • 1 cup panko

Method

  1. Heat oven to 375 degrees with rack in the middle of oven.
  2. Melt half of the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour to melted butter whisking constantly until flour is fully absorbed in butter.
  3. Slowly whisk in milk one cup at a time. (The slower you add the milk quicker the sauce will thicken.)
  4. Once sauce is thick stir in cream cheese along with all grated cheese, reserving 1 cup, until cheese is melted.
  5. Add salt, pepper and garlic powder. Adjust seasoning if needed and add all but 2 tbsp of the bacon and jalapeños and remove from heat.
  6. While the sauce is cooking, cook pasta in a large pot according to package instructions. Stir together the cooked macaroni noodles and the sauce and transfer to a 9 x 13 baking dish, or a large (12-14”) skillet that has been prepped with cooking spray if needed.
  7. In a small skillet melt remaining butter. Remove from heat and toss panko into melted butter.
  8. Top with remaining cheese and buttered panko. Bake in the oven until golden and bubbling, 30-40 minutes.
  9. Once finished top with sliced jalapeños and reserved bacon. Serve warm.