The Jalapeno Spaghetti, coated with rich, creamy parmesan cheese, is like heaven served at the dinner table. The perfectly balanced, creamy sauce, blended with jalapeno flavors, is just mesmerizing.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Time: 30 minutes
- Spice Level: Mild-medium; easy to adjust
- Dietary Info: Vegetarian; contains dairy and gluten
- Why You'll Love it: Creamy jalapeño pasta with cheesy heat, Quick 30-minute weeknight comfort dinner, Adjustable spice using jalapeño seeds and quantity
My family loves this delicious jalapeno spaghetti bursting with bright and delightful flavors. If you enjoy spicy dishes, you'll find more inspiration in my favorite jalapeno recipes.
The jalapeño spaghetti is generously coated in a luscious, creamy cheddar sauce with bright flavors and a warm kick from the jalapeños.
This easy weeknight dinner, ready in under 30 minutes, tastes delicious with savory notes and a slightly tangy balance from the tomatoes and garlic.
The Ingredients & Substitutions
- Spaghetti is excellent at holding onto our creamy sauce. Linguine or Fettuccine would make worthy substitutes.
- Olive oil. Its subtly fruity flavor provides an excellent base for sautéing our jalapenos and garlic.
- Jalapeno. The jalapenos are the flavor providers. They add that exciting heat and a unique tangy-spicy flavor, making the dish lively and vibrant.
- Garlic. It brings a warm, robust flavor to our dish
- Heavy cream. Cream is the key to our luscious, velvety sauce and pairs well with spicy recipes. If you're after a lighter version or need a dairy-free option, try almond or oat milk mixed with cornstarch. Coconut milk is another option; note that it will give a subtle tropical hint.
- Parmesan cheese. This jalapeno spaghetti has a salty, nutty, and umami kick. It enhances the overall flavor profile, taking it from delicious to genuinely delectable.
- Fresh parsley. It provides a beautiful color contrast and adds a hint of herbs, breaking through the rich and spicy flavors.
How To Make Jalapeno Spaghetti?
- Step 1. Boil salted water, cook the spaghetti until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Step 2. In a pan, sauté garlic, onion, and jalapeño in olive oil until tender. Add tomatoes and cook until soft.
- Step 3. Stir in cream, herbs, salt, and pepper.
- Step 4. Add cooked spaghetti and cheddar cheese. Toss until evenly coated. And Enjoy
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♨️How To Adjust The Heat?
This jalapeño spaghetti has a gentle warmth from fresh jalapeños, making it one of my favorite quick spicy dinner recipes. I like how easy it is to modify the spice, just adjust the number of peppers or how you handle the seeds.
- Mild: Use one jalapeño with seeds removed. You'll get light pepper flavor with a soft, comfortable warmth.
- Medium: Use two jalapeños and keep a few seeds. I find this level gives a pleasant kick without overpowering the creamy sauce.
- Extra Hot: Leave all seeds and membranes, and add another jalapeño or a serrano pepper for bold, lingering heat.
Variations
- Seafood. Try adding sautéed shrimp or calamari into the sauce.
- With veggies. Toss roasted vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, or eggplant.
- For vegan. You can also sprinkle some nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan for a vegan alternative.
- Smoky Jalapeno Spaghetti. Give your dish a smoky spin by incorporating a touch of smoked paprika or chipotle(or with this jalapeno hot sauce). It adds a lovely depth of flavor and complements the heat of the jalapenos.
Explore Dietary Ideas & More Ingredient Substitutions With AI
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be as spicy as you like. To adjust the heat, use less jalapeno or remove its seeds and ribs.
Absolutely! You can use any pasta you have on hand. The dish will still be delicious, though the texture and sauce-to-pasta ratio may vary slightly.
Certainly! Substitute the cheese with a vegan-friendly alternative or nutritional yeast for a vegetarian version.
If you enjoyed this Jalapeno Spaghetti Recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know your thoughts in the 📝 comments section below the recipe.
📖 Recipe
Jalapeño Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- 2 jalapeños finely chopped (deseeded if you want less heat)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 large tomato chopped (or one 14-ounce can of diced tomato with juice)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon Salt or to taste
- ¾ tsp black pepper
- 1 cup mild cheddar cheese grated
Instructions
Cooking the Spaghetti
- Over medium to high heat, fill a large pot with water.
- Add a generous pinch of salt, and bring it to a boil.
- Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente (firm to the bite), usually 8-10 minutes.
- Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Drain the spaghetti and set aside.
Preparing the Jalapeño Sauce
- While the spaghetti is cooking, place a pan over medium heat.
- Add olive oil, minced garlic, and chopped onion. Stir until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add finely chopped jalapeno and cook until tender and lightly browned, about 5-7 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Add the chopped tomato (or diced tomato with juice). Cook on medium heat until the tomato becomes soft.
Combining Other Ingredients
- Add heavy cream, dried parsley, dried basil, salt, and pepper.
- Turn the heat to low-medium.
Toss the Spaghetti:
- Add the cooked spaghetti and grated mild cheddar cheese to the pan.
- Toss well to ensure that every strand is coated with the spicy, jalapeño-flavored sauce.
Serving
- Transfer to serving plates.
- Sprinkle generous amounts of grated Parmesan cheese.
- For an extra kick, sprinkle some freshly chopped jalapeños on top.
Notes
- After eating, cool the spaghetti to room temp (within 2 hours).
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
- To thaw, place in the fridge overnight or use the microwave's defrost setting.
- Reheat in the microwave for 2 minutes, then in 30-second intervals, or on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring until hot.
Nutrition
Additional Info
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love
Thank you, and happy to hear that you loved this jalapeno spaghetti recipe!
Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it was a savory success! Quick, easy and delicious with the perfect amount of kick! Definitely, a new favorite recipe!
Creamy and zesty is music to my ear, and this Jalapeno spaghetti didn't disappoint! The entire family loved it!