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a skillet full of jalapeño mac and cheese

Best Jalapeno Mac and Cheese

Jalapeño mac and cheese is a spicy twist on the classic comfort food; it's rich, creamy, and cheesy with the perfect amount of heat in each gooey forkful. Serve it hot, bubbly out of the oven as a delicious side dish at Sunday dinners, cookouts, barbecues, and potlucks.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 724
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • ¼ cup Butter
  • 4 cups Heavy Cream
  • 2 tbsp Garlic Paste you can buy this or make it at home, instructions in the notes
  • 16 oz Short pasta noodle of your choice ex: elbow, penne, bow tie, etc
  • 4 cups Mexican Blend Cheese
  • 2 cups Mild Cheddar
  • 1 tbsp Sour Cream
  • 2 Jalapeños 1 chopped for mix in, and one sliced into circles for topping
  • 1 tbsp Bayou City All Purpose Seasoning
  • 1 tbsp Bayou City Garlic Pepper
  • 1 tsp Lemon Pepper
  • 1 tsp Smoked Paprika plus more for topping

Equipment

  • 1 2 Quart Baking Dish
  • 10 Cast Iron

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. In a saucepan melt 1/2 cup of butter.
  3. Once butter is melted, toss in roasted garlic paste and season with 1 tsp smoked paprika,1 tbsp Bayou City AP, 1 tbsp Bayou City GP, 1 tsp Smoked Paprika, and 1 tsp lemon pepper. Whisk together while mashing up that garlic paste until combined and cook for 3 minutes.
  4. Pour heavy cream into a sauce pan and bring to a low simmer and then add in 2 cups Mexican blend cheese. Let simmer for 8 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted and sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
  5. Bring water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente (about 8 minutes).
  6. Drain pasta and while pasta is still hot  place in a large bowl and mix in the rest of your Mexican blend cheese (2 cups),  your cheese sauce, and 1 jalapeño chopped. Mix well and place in a 10” cast iron or 2 qt baking dish.
  7. Top with 2 cups of mild cheddar making sure to evenly cover the top and 1 jalapeño (sliced into a circle). Sprinkle with some smoked paprika.
  8. Place in the oven for 15 minutes.
  9. Let cool for 10 minutes.

Notes

To make garlic paste, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut off one end of a whole garlic bulb. Place on aluminum foil, exposed side facing up. Drizzle with avocado oil and season with salt and pepper. Wrap in aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool. Once cool, squeeze out the garlic into a small bowl and mash until a paste. I pretty much add this to everything and you can too.