This creamy, Spicy Mac And Cheese recipe was inspired by a cheesy pasta we had at a restaurant last week. Best of all, this hot mac and cheese turned out to be even more ultimate and delicious.
Prepare this spicy mac and cheese in less than 40 minutes! If you're using a cast-iron skillet(look how helpful it is in this jalapeno corn dip), you're in luck.
I love that this one-pot wonder minimizes clean-up time and lets me spend less time in the kitchen.
It uses simple, pantry-friendly ingredients for a quick, easy meal with a creamy texture and a delicious spicy kick that I can't get enough of.
Like classic mac and cheese, this dish is very versatile. You can easily adjust the heat level to your liking, and it's also great for experimenting with different flavors.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
⭐️Creamy cheese sauce with bold flavors.
⭐️Easy to make with simple ingredients.
⭐️Simple and adaptable recipe.
Ingredients
- Macaroni: Elbow pasta is the classic choice in this spicy mac and cheese. But feel free to use multigrain or any other variety of pasta. You could also experiment with penne, ziti, or your favorite noodle shape.
- Butter and Olive Oil: We have used both—butter lends a rich flavor to the sauce, while olive oil adds a classic touch. Additionally, butter is used in this recipe to make the sauce, while olive oil is used to make the crumbles on top.
- Cayenne Pepper and Paprika: I've used ¾ teaspoon of paprika and ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper for moderate heat. To give you an idea, cayenne pepper is hotter than paprika. Adjust the quantities of these peppers according to your preference. If you prefer a milder mac and cheese, omit the cayenne pepper. It will still taste great!
- Onion Powder and Garlic Powder: Both flavor boosters meld beautifully with each bite of this spicy mac and cheese.
- All-purpose flour: You can substitute it with almond or rice flour.
How To Make Spicy Mac and Cheese?
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until smooth.
- Gradually whisk in milk and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly until thickening. Add shredded cheddar, pepper jack, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper, stirring until smooth.
- Stir in the cooked and drained macaroni.
- Pour the mixture into the baking dish. Mix panko breadcrumbs with olive oil and sprinkle on top. In the preheated oven at 375°F, bake for 20 minutes or until the top turns golden brown. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
♨️How To Control The Heat?
The spicy mac and cheese has medium heat, mainly because of the cayenne pepper used in this recipe.
To control the heat, reduce the amount of cayenne pepper. If you want it to be even milder, adjust the quantity of paprika and pepper jack cheese.
Storage & Reheating
Leftover mac & cheese can be repurposed into soups or salads.
Refrigerate leftovers for up to five days or freeze them for up to three months.
To prevent it from drying out, sprinkle some water or milk before reheating, which will help keep it creamy and bubbly.
My preferred method for reheating this spicy mac and cheese is microwaving. However, you can also use the oven(bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes), stovetop, or microwave(heat in 30-second intervals).
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Cook the macaroni pasta until al dente in salted water, then drain and set it aside until needed.
- You can prepare the pasta and cheese sauce separately, store them in the refrigerator, and toss them together to bake whenever you're ready.
FAQ
Grilled food (like meat, veggies, chicken, or seafood) and corn goes well with creamy mac and cheese. For a lighter side, try a fresh salad with a tangy dressing.
Pepperjack, parmesan, mozzarella, and sharp cheddar are some classic choices. But Gouda, Monterey Jack, or a blend of cheeses also work well.
Absolutely! Use vegan cheese, dairy-free milk, and vegan-friendly pasta.
If your dish is dry, you may need more liquid milk. Add a splash of water to dilute the consistency.
More Cheesy Dinner Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know your thoughts in the 📝 comments section below the recipe.
📖 Recipe
Spicy Mac And Cheese
Ingredients
- ½ pound elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ cup pepper jack cheese shredded
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoon panko breadcrumbs
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- fresh parsley Chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and butter a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions in salted water until al dente.
- Drain the macaroni and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, until the mixture is smooth.
- Gradually whisk in the milk and cook for 5-7 minutes, whisking constantly, until the mixture has thickened.
- Add the shredded cheddar cheese and shredded pepper jack cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper, and stir until the cheese has melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
- Pour the mac and cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- In a small bowl, mix together the panko breadcrumbs and olive oil, and sprinkle the mixture over the mac and cheese.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the breadcrumbs are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot.
Notes
- Leftovers can be repurposed into soups or salads.
- This spicy mac and cheese is good to store in the refrigerator for up to five days or in the freezer for up to three months.
- Add a splash of water or milk to keep the mac and cheese creamy when reheating to prevent it from drying out.
Dina and Bruce says
Oh my goodness was this a crowd pleaser at our BBQ this weekend! So tasty!
Ned says
Oh the pepper jack cheese in this recipe really put it over the top! Thank you for this awesome spicy option!