This jalapeno popper macaroni and cheese is probably the best thing that’s ever come out of my kitchen.
There’s not much more to say about it than that. I mean, I could go on about how how rich and creamy and cheesy it is. How the thick sauce that clings to each piece of pasta tastes like someone just squeezed the guts out of your favorite bar poppers and called it “sauce.” How I kept running back to the kitchen as I waited for the pasta to finish cooking because I couldn’t stop sneaking tastes.
Or I could tell you how even though I lightened it up by using vegetable stock instead of cream and reduced fat cheese* instead of full fat cheese, it’s still some of the richest macaroni and cheese I’ve ever tasted. While I certainly wouldn’t call it health food, it’s healthier than most homemade macaroni and cheese. And definitely healthier than eating a plate full of fried jalapeno poppers for dinner.
Seriously, I might as well just stop cooking, because I don’t know if I’ll ever top this one. So I’ll just say this: make this ASAP. You can thank me later.
*Repeat after me: fat free cheese is evil. If you try to use that instead of reduced fat, I take no responsibility in your results. If you want to use full-fat cheese be my guest, but Cabot makes a very nice 50% reduced fat cheddar and pepper jack that melts beautifully and tastes like the real deal.
Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
Instructions
Lj says
05/20 at 11:18 amThis looks great. Do you happen to have nutritional information?
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Joline Boudreau Cosman says
10/20 at 5:26 pmLOVE a Popper, and can’t wait to try this !!! Looks awesome !!!
Emily says
06/16 at 4:37 pmThis recipe looks great, but I am curious to know if the 4 ounce of pasta was a typo…That is 1/4 of a normal package of pasta and is certainly nooooooo where near enough for 4 servings- 2 ounces is a normal serving size for pasta. Just wanted to make sure before I made it so I would know if I need to increase the amount of the sauce ingredients or just the amount of pasta. Looks great and I can’t wait to try it!
Lauren @ HealthyDelish says
06/16 at 5:09 pmI think it should say 8 ounces. I use half of a box of pasta when I make it.
Noreen Marcos says
04/22 at 3:19 pmDry breadcrumbs are made from dry bread which has been baked or toasted to remove most remaining moisture, and may even have a sandy or even powdery texture. Bread crumbs are most easily produced by pulverizing slices of bread in a food processor, using a steel blade to make coarse crumbs, or a grating blade to make fine crumbs. A grater or similar tool will also do.”
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Jenn says
11/26 at 6:42 pmI made this for the secret recipe club reveal today. HUGE hit at my house! Thanks so much for the great recipe 🙂
May says
10/01 at 11:47 pmI scaled down the recipe and made a single serving for myself today. I didn’t have veggie stock so I substituted with this white wine and herb chicken broth that I have on hand. I also used shallots instead of red onion and Neufchâtel cheese instead of cream cheese (it’s reduced fat and you can’t even tell the difference). All I have to say is… Holy macaroni! The hallelujah chorus and flights of angels spiraled down from the sky. Cherubs wept tears of joy. I have to be careful with this recipe. My boyfriend would have a sudden realization that he has no choice but to propose on the spot. He’ll think that any creature capable of producing such deliciousness needs to be secured right away. Okay. Maybe I’m exaggerating. But really. Great recipe. 😀
Laura says
02/29 at 5:44 pmI just made this, and wow! It is seriously good. I added some mozzarella mixed with the cheddar and cream cheeses, which gave it a bit of gooey, stretchy cheese action. Yum!
Ana Fernández says
11/04 at 5:29 amHi everyone,
For the first time in my live I´m living alone, and as I never cooked before I´m all the time searching in the internet, so I found your blog, it´s amazing, it really makes thing easier for me.
I use Spanish cheese in my recipes, they are amazing,there are many diferent ones, suitable for all kind of recipes, just have a look at this website and let me know what do you think.
kind regards
Ana
http://www.asturiascheese.com/spanish-cheese
Jerry says
10/01 at 1:30 pmI was thinking of adding some cayenne pepper to the bread crumbs.
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
09/28 at 3:37 pmI made a similar dish a few months ago Lauren…probably the first mac and cheese I’ve ever done that didn’t go into the over afterwards. Mine had poblano peppers…and I kept ‘testing’ it so much I should have just put a bunch in a bowl and called it dinner. So I know. Yes I do. Now have to add some jalapeno huh? Great dish.
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says
09/29 at 9:28 amMmmm, I love poblanos too. I bet this would be good with a combination of the two peppers!
Gili says
09/28 at 2:31 pmHOLY CRAP there is 14 points in a serving of this. That is ridiculous,and not healthy.
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says
09/29 at 9:27 amI respectfully disagree. I follow Weight Watchers off and on and get 29 points per day (the lowest amount) plus activity points and weekly points. While I wouldn’t advocate eating this every day, my dinners usually fall around 14 points (which leaves me 15 to split between breakfast and lunch – I’m not much of a breakfast person though so I usually have a yogurt and fruit for 4 points). Paired with a salad or some zero point soup for the nutritional value and extra veggie servings, I think this is a nice treat and can easily be worked into the plan. Plus it’s so rich that you might find a full serving is too much for you.
Katherine Martinelli says
09/23 at 6:50 pmOh dear. This looks TOO good!! I have a compelling desire to go out and make this right NOW! Looks amazing.
Hannah says
09/21 at 11:58 amOh wow, say no more! This looks amazing…we love mac & cheese and I like your addition of some spice to jazz it up.
Barbara says
09/21 at 6:37 amIf you say it’s that good, I have to try it! Looks delicious, Lauren, and you can’t beat that combo of ingredients!
Christine @ Fresh Local and Best says
09/20 at 10:51 pmBest thing to come out of your kitchen?! Well then I shall make this! I’m looking forward to it, the combination of jalapeno, bacon, cheese and onions sounds fabulous!
Dani || Moderate Oven says
09/20 at 10:24 amThis looks kind of amazing, and I don’t even like macaroni and cheese. Mainly because it’s boring, which this would not be.
Bree says
09/19 at 5:15 pmOh la la! This sounds fabulous!
Christine says
09/19 at 3:47 pmThis looks & sounds seriously delicious! I’m putting in on the menu schedule ASAP 🙂
Sunny Hernandez (@foryourpiesonly) says
09/19 at 2:11 pmMmmm this looks delicious Lauren! Definitely will have to try this some cold night 🙂
Joanne says
09/19 at 1:15 pmI never go fat free anymore…has weirdo preservatives in it. Low fat, though, is the way to go!
Man does this sound amazing. I’ve really been craving mac and cheese lately, too…
Monique says
09/19 at 11:03 amLauren this is DEFINITELY a winner! My coworker just had a baby and I think taking a covered dish like this will def make her day!
but i dont think i could have this around for myself– i would literally drink the sauce! (you know i would LOL)
and i agree about the cabot! Great cheese!
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says
09/19 at 11:05 amI kept running to the kitchen to take “tastes” (aka spoonfulls) of the sauce. It was incredible! I think it could easily be scaled down to make one portion though too. And I bet your coworker will love it!
Debbe says
03/22 at 9:52 pmIt does look like it would be pretty easy to scale down to one portion (or a portion and a little extra ;)); my boyfriend doesn’t like poppers, so may not like this either, but it’s right up my alley!! Thank you so much for sending me the link, and so soon after I asked for it, too! I’m gonna love this, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Heather says
09/19 at 10:47 amlol, this is not helping my mac & cheese craving! Maybe I’ll try it out this weekend.
Lindsay @Eat, Knit, Grow says
09/19 at 9:37 amWow! That looks amazing! I need that right now!! Bookmarked!
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen says
09/19 at 6:53 amSounds decadent and delicious. I agree with the fat free cheese suggestion. Awful stuff.
Sam
bellini says
09/19 at 5:00 amThis is a twist on macatoni and cheese I can sink my teeth into.
Neil | Butterfield says
09/19 at 3:37 amSounds awesome! I love mac and cheese and jalepeno chilis are my favorite. I have never though about combining these 2 together though. Thanks for sharing.
raquel @ Erecipe says
09/18 at 9:58 pmI have made one like this and it is a big hit with my kids…actually even my neighbor like jalapeno mac and cheese… =)
Cara says
09/18 at 8:35 pmmmm, I love how jalapeno poppers and have been thinking about ways to incorporate the flavors into a dinner dish. I was thinking burgers of some sort – but this mac and cheese sounds amazing, and I was so surprised to see it’s healthier too!
Nisrine says
09/18 at 8:24 pmI’m loving this zesty pasta. It must be really flavorful and a nice change from the regular tomato sauce.
Tash says
01/07 at 4:44 pmThis recipe I have to try coz we love the normal Mac and Cheese this one sounds like it brings a whole new look and flavour to the dinner table,thank you for sharing!