This Easy Stovetop Jalapeno Mac and Cheese is a quick fix to your dinner cravings and is for when you're really tired but want to treat yourself to a bowl of comfort food. Who can say no to some creamy, dreamy, mac and cheese topped with jalapenos? Make extras so you can enjoy the yumminess for a little longer!
Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food. There is nothing better than a big bowl of creamy cheesy pasta and it always manages to beat away the blues.
We weren't allowed too much packaged food while growing up so I never ate those blue boxes of pasta. And mac and cheese was always made from scratch and while the blue boxes might be nostalgic, homemade mac and cheese tastes way better!
Since I always always love a hit of spice in my food, I love making this jalapeno mac and cheese. It's not 'hot' but has a sharp flavor from the jalapenos which reminds me a little bit of the cheesy center in jalapeno poppers.
If you love jalapeno, try out these Jalapeno Poppers, Jalapeno Three Cheese Samosas, Jalapeno Mango Cocktail, and Jalapeno Pesto Pasta.
3 Reasons to make Jalapeno Mac and Cheese at home
- This is a one-pot recipe which means that you don't need to boil the pasta separately or dirty a ton of dishes
- The flavor from the jalapenos really elevates mac and cheese and adds a nice sharpness and a little bit of heat
- This recipe is cheesy, without being gluggy or overcooked and there is a fair bit of sauciness
Most mac and cheese recipes require to be baked and I love the crunchy, cheese top - I do. But mum always made it this way and trust me, a warm bowl in your hand, your head against the pillow and a movie playing on the laptop. That's all it takes to wash the tiredness away.
Can Jalapeno Mac and Cheese be baked?
Absolutely! Once you finish cooking the mac and cheese, transfer it into a baking dish, sprinkle some breadcrumbs and parmesan on top and broil it (top element only) for 5 minutes till the breadcrumbs are golden brown.
Can Jalapeno Mac and Cheese be made in advance?
If making this in advance, reduce the cooking time to 8 minutes so that the macaroni isn't overcooked. To reheat, add some milk, stir well and simmer till heated through completely. To microwave, stir some milk in and microwave in 1-minute bursts till hot.
The day you try this out, make sure to wear your stretchy pants because I promise there won't be any leftovers!
More Creamy Pasta Recipes
- White Sauce Pasta with Veggies
- Chicken Florentine Pasta
- Creamy Prawn Scampi Pasta
- Pasta in Jalapeno Pesto
- One-Pot Vegetable Pasta
Watch Jalapeno Mac and Cheese Recipe Video
Easy Stovetop Jalapeno Mushroom Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons Butter
- 4 Jalapenos
- 2½ tablespoons Flour
- 3 cups Milk
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 2 ½ cups Water
- 1½ cups Elbow Macaroni dry or any other small pasta
- 1 cup Cheese – grated I used a mix of Mozzarella and cheddar
- ¾ teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Start by deseeding the jalapenos and chopping the jalapenos
- In a large pot, add butter and jalapenos. Saute for 2-3 minutes.
- In the same pan, add the flour. Cook the flour on low flame for a minute. Slowly add milk while whisking it into the flour to make sure there are no lumps. Increase the heat, and keep whisking till the mixture comes to a boil. Lower the flame and cook for 3-4 minutes till the sauce thickens up and it’s consistency is almost like heavy cream.
- Add pepper, Italian seasoning and mix. Add water and macaroni and bring this to a boil. Simmer till the macaroni is cooked through (about 10 minutes), stirring occasionally.
- Add cheese and mix. The cheese will melt in under a minute. Serve hot.
Notes
- Pasta: This recipe works well with any pasta that cooks in 10 minutes so spirals, small shells etc all work in this recipe
- Jalapenos: If I'm making this for my family I don't deseed the jalapenos because we love the heat, but if that's too much for you make sure to remove the seeds. If you want the flavor to be even milder, use canned jalapenos
- Veggies: You can also add veggies such as mushrooms, broccoli, zucchini, carrots or any other vegetable you like.
- The trick to a creamy sauce is to keep whisking while adding milk to the roux (butter + flour) and making sure there are no lumps.
Renee says
Omg!! I made this dish tonight and served baked chicken baked on top. It was so yummy !!!! Family new favorite !!!❤️❤️❤️
Richa says
Sooo glad you liked it Renee!
Jess Speake says
WOAH. If you want to make Mac n Cheese Mondays a thing, I'm definitely on board! This looks amazing. BRB, going to the store to get all these ingredients... 😀
- Jess @ JessExplainsItAll.com
Jess Speake says
WOAH. I'm drooling! If you want to make Mac n Cheese Mondays a thing
Marisa Stewart says
You add jalapeño to it and I'm all in. What a wonderful way to enjoy mac and cheese. Thank you for sharing.
Richa Gupta says
Hey The Girl Next Door. Fresh Jalapenos are usually available at Foodhall, Natures Basket or Namdhari's but you can swap them with the pickled variety.
The Girl Next Door says
I'm not sure where I can find fresh jalapenos in Bangalore. Can I use pickled ones instead?
Richa Gupta says
Amanda I love it because of it's simplicity and versatility. I hope you give this one a try and like it as much as we do 🙂
Richa Gupta says
That was my idea too. I love the good ole mac n cheese but the Jalapenos and mushrooms make this irresistible!
Amanda@ChewTown says
Mac and Cheese isn't really a dish we've embraced here in Australia, and I've never really understood why! Certainly, your version looks simply delicious, and I love the inclusion of jalapeno.
Sreelatha @ Framed Recipes says
Richa, This is too good. I make good old mac and cheese with out mushrooms or jalapeno for my Sonshine, which my husband refuses to eat. The jalapenos would add a nice kick and the mushrooms would add the umami required. Thanks for sharing. - Sreelatha
Richa Gupta says
Oh totally! I can't live without a little spice in my food and the Jalapeños just subtly take it up a notch or two
Sandhya says
I love Mac and Cheese... sometimes with three cheese too. Adding Jalapeno's must be giving the right heat !! isn't it?
Richa Gupta says
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy this 🙂
Richa Gupta says
It's such a great combination and we looove mushrooms at home. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Richa Gupta says
Shashi, while I like baked Mac n Cheese, I only prefer this because you can control how cooked your macaroni is. I hope you give it a try!