Main Dishes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Jalapeno Popper Mac 'n Cheese 4.5 (4) 1 Review 2 Photos With an abundance of jalapenos in the garden, I was looking for new ways to use them, and this popper mac 'n cheese is a great one! This recipe is easily adjustable to add more heat or to take it away. The amount of jalapenos used in this recipe will yield a nice, spicy mac 'n cheese without being too over-the-top spicy. The mac 'n cheese itself is rich and creamy. Enjoy! Submitted by Christina Published on May 4, 2019 Save Rate Print Share Close Add Photo Prep Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 5 mins Additional Time: 10 mins Total Time: 1 hr 40 mins Servings: 8 Yield: 1 1 1/2-quart baking dish Jump to Nutrition Facts Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1x 2x 4x Oops! Something went wrong. Our team is working on it. Original recipe (1X) yields 8 servings 1 (8 ounce) package elbow macaroni ¼ cup butter 1 small onion, diced 5 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced (Optional) 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 cups 2% milk ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon seasoned salt ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce, or more to taste 1 (8 ounce) package light processed cheese food (such as Velveeta Light®), cubed 2 ounces cream cheese, cubed 1 pinch salt to taste Crumb Topping: 3 slices bacon ⅓ cup seasoned panko bread crumbs 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 1 jalapeno pepper, sliced into thin rings (Optional) Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 1 1/2-quart baking dish. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and return to pot; set aside. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and jalapenos; cook until just softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Mix in flour, coating vegetables well. Whisk in milk slowly until smooth. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly until thickened, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Season sauce with garlic powder, seasoned salt, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir in processed cheese and cream cheese until melted and sauce is smooth, about 5 minutes. Season with salt. Pour macaroni into cheese sauce and stir to coat completely. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels. Cool briefly. Crumble bacon and mix with panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over macaroni. Top with jalapeno slices. Bake, uncovered, until browned and bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Cook's Note: You can also use 2 tablespoons butter plus 2 tablespoons bacon grease instead of 1/4 cup butter, if desired. I Made It Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 333 Calories 16g Fat 34g Carbs 14g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 8 Calories 333 % Daily Value * Total Fat 16g 20% Saturated Fat 9g 44% Cholesterol 45mg 15% Sodium 786mg 34% Total Carbohydrate 34g 12% Dietary Fiber 1g 5% Total Sugars 7g Protein 14g 29% Vitamin C 6mg 6% Calcium 268mg 21% Iron 1mg 8% Potassium 328mg 7% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data. (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.