# Jalapeño Popper Mac n Cheese

A creamy and spicy pasta bake loaded with bacon, fresh jalapeños, and a blend of melted cheeses.

- Servings: 8
- Total time: 55 min
- Cuisine: Italian
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 1 lb cavatappi pasta
- 8 slice bacon
- 3-4 whole fresh jalapeño, finely diced
- 3 clove garlic, minced
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 cup whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 cup cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded
- 1 cup pepper jack cheese, freshly shredded
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- salt (optional)

## Instructions

1. Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crispy. Remove, chop into pieces, and set aside.
2. Sauté diced jalapeños in a little bacon grease until softened.
3. Add minced garlic and stir for a couple of minutes.
4. Add butter and flour to the skillet and stir/whisk for 1-2 minutes to cook the roux.
5. Add smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper, and stir into the roux.
6. Slowly pour in milk and heavy cream, whisking continuously to create a smooth sauce, and simmer until it begins to thicken.
7. Reduce heat to low and stir in cream cheese and shredded cheeses until melted and creamy. Stir in the crumbled bacon.
8. In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta with the cheese sauce and mix until coated.
9. Transfer into a baking dish (or cast iron skillet) and top with additional shredded cheese.
10. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes, then broil for 3-5 minutes until golden.
11. Let the dish sit for a few minutes before serving to allow the sauce to settle.

## Equipment

- large skillet
- large mixing bowl
- whisk
- spatula
- baking dish or cast iron skillet

## Tips

- Be careful not to burn the roux while cooking out the raw flour taste.
- Add the milk and heavy cream slowly while whisking to ensure a smooth sauce.
- Avoid boiling the sauce after adding the cheese.

## Source

- Original video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DfmwcHNxfIi/?psln=MWJxMzR1b2FiOWFzaw== https://www.instagram.com/reel/DfmwcHNxfIi/?psln=MWJxMzR1b2FiOWFzaw==
- Creator: Emily
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/b7631aee-1234-497f-ae48-09ce43d3a204
- Extracted: 2026-11-13

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt