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    Home » Recipes » Main Courses

    Jalapeno Mac and Cheese

    Published: Nov 22, 2024 · Modified: May 10, 2025 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

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    This spicy and creamy Jalapeno Mac and Cheese is your favorite comfort food with an upgrade! If you like spicy foods that have that kick of heat, you’re going to love this recipe! It’s filling, creamy, dreamy and makes for a great weeknight dinner option after a long, tiring day at work! 

    A spoon lifting up a serving of jalapeno mac and cheese from the dish.
    Jump to:
    •  Why You’ll Love This Spicy Mac and Cheese Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Variations
    • How to Make Jalapeno Mac and Cheese
    • Storage
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Recipe Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Video
    • More Delicious Casserole Recipes
    • Jalapeno Macaroni and Cheese

    I’m a big fan of jalapeno peppers. They have just the right amount of heat, and have that beautiful flavor that you can put to use in so many different ways and recipes. 

    Every time I get my hands on a big batch of these peppers, I end up using them to make my spicy jalapeno hot sauce or a nice and hearty jalapeno popper breakfast casserole.  I also love mac and cheese! Like my BBQ mac and cheese and this crockpot bacon mac and cheese!

    So why not bring my two favorites together to make some delicious mac and cheese with a bit of a kick?

     Why You’ll Love This Spicy Mac and Cheese Recipe

    • Cheesy and creamy: It has the perfect balance of creamy and cheesy flavor, and is the a tasty comfort meal you’ll enjoy making. 
    • Quick and easy: Making the spicy mac and cheese is super easy! All you’ll need is a few minutes of hands-on kitchen time to make it.
    • Family meal: It’s been an absolute hit with everyone in my family ever since I made it, and is one of my personal favorites too!
    • Customizable: You can also customize and tweak the mix-ins and seasonings based on your preference.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients to make spicy mac and cheese on the table before cooking.
    • Pasta: I used rotini noodles here. They’re my absolute favorite, but you can easily swap it with any kind of pasta you enjoy! Cook them until they’re just al-dente. 
    • Jalapenos: Fresh jalapenos are the star ingredient here that add that nice bit of flavor. Use as much as your taste buds can tolerate. 
    • Cheese: I used a mix of shredded Colby jack and cheddar cheese for that irresistible flavor. You can use any other kind of good melting cheese too! 
    • Evaporated milk: I used evaporated milk instead of making a roux with flour, and it makes the mac and cheese so much better! 
    • Sour cream: For that bit of tangy, creamy deliciousness. 
    • Ranch seasoning: Feel free to use your favorite packaged ranch seasoning here! It just has an incredible flavor. 
    • Seasonings: Experiment with different seasonings of your choice, or just keep it simple and use some crushed black pepper and salt like I did. 
    • Butter: For that amazing rich flavor. 

    See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

    Variations

    • Extra flavor: For a bit of extra flavor, I sometimes like to add a dash of cayenne pepper (for that spicy kick), dill pickle seasoning, or Italian seasoning mix. 
    • Veggie loaded: Bulk up the jalapeno cheddar mac and cheese with veggies like broccoli, green beans, bell peppers, peas, and even carrots. Just remember to blanch them first in the pasta cooking water for a few minutes. 
    • Make it meaty: To add a bit of protein to the pasta dish, you can also add some shredded chicken, pulled pork, cooked ground beef or sausage, or some diced leftover ham into the mix. 

    How to Make Jalapeno Mac and Cheese

    To make this easy recipe, start by preheating the oven at 350 degrees, greasing or spraying your casserole dish, and getting all your ingredients ready. 

    Pasta, cheese, seasoning, sour cream and milk in a bowl.

    Step 1: Combine the ingredients. Leave the pasta slightly undercooked and transfer it to a big mixing bowl. Add the shredded cheeses, evaporated milk, ranch seasoning, sour cream, butter and chopped jalapenos to the bowl.

    Jalapeno mac and cheese mixture combined in a bowl.

    Step 2: Mix it up. Season if needed and mix well to combine.

    Jalapeno macaroni and cheese in a baking dish topped with shredded cheese.

    Step 3: Transfer. Place the mac and cheese mixture in your prepared baking dish. Top with extra shredded cheese and crushed black pepper.

    Jalapeno mac and cheese casserole on tabletop garnished with jalapeno slices.

    Step 4: Bake, rest, and serve. Bake the casserole in your preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown on the top. Allow it to rest for a few minutes and serve!

    If you love mac and cheese recipes like this one, you may also enjoy my Skillet Mac and Cheese, Crockpot Chili Mac, Mac and Cheese Meatloaf, Jalapeno Popper Chicken or this Lobster Mac and Cheese.

    A dish of jalapeno mac and cheese on the table topped with jalapeno slices and a wooden spoon holding up over the dish.

    Storage

    • Storing: If you have leftovers, transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the dish if you want to for up to three months. Allow it to cool down completely, cover it up with foil and transfer it to a freezer-safe bag before you freeze it. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
    • Reheating: You can reheat the spicy mac and cheese in the microwave until it has warmed through, or pop it in the oven for a few minutes, ideally covered with foil. 

    Make Ahead: Assemble the dish the night before, leaving off the shredded cheese on top, and place it in the fridge overnight. Remove it the next day, sprinkle with cheese, and let it sit on the counter for about thirty minutes before baking. Add on 10-15 minutes to allow for the colder temperature at the start.

    Serving Suggestions

    Enjoy this cheesy and hearty baked jalapeno mac and cheese with a simple green vegetable side dish, or choose from my favorites like balsamic green beans, air fryer green beans, or some air fryer frozen Brussels sprouts.

    I also love serving it with some other veggie side dishes like broiled asparagus or honey maple carrots.

    Need some more inspiration? Check out this collection of what to serve with mac and cheese or these cheesy fall recipes.

    A serving of spicy mac and cheese missing from the dish showing the inside.

    Recipe Tips

    • Cheese it right: Picking the right blend of cheeses can really make your spicy macaroni and cheese taste so much better. Choose 3 or more cheeses for the best balance of texture and flavor. Colby, Monterey Jack, cheddar and Parmesan are all great choices. 
    • Shred it at home: Packaged, pre-shredded cheeses can be more convenient, but for this recipe, I would highly urge you to shred your own cheese at home for the best flavor and creaminess.
    • Top it right: For that nice and crispy crust on the top of the pasta bake, add some breadcrumbs in addition to the shredded cheese. Crushed crispy bacon is a great option too! 
    • Salt your pasta water: It makes such a difference in the taste of pasta and the overall dish.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I use bottled jalapenos if I can’t find fresh ones?

    You can! Just remember that the pickled, bottled jalapenos will have considerably less heat than the fresh ones, so you might need to add more to get that perfect flavor you’re looking for.  

    Why is my mac and cheese drying out?

    If the sauce is too thick, it can dry out your mac and cheese. To keep this from happening, you can cover the baking dish with tinfoil to keep the moisture intact. 

    A fork lifting up a bite jalapeno mac and cheese from a bowl with a casserole dish in the background.

    Video

    YouTube video

    More Delicious Casserole Recipes

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    Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

    Jalapeno Macaroni and Cheese in a bowl on the table.

    Jalapeno Macaroni and Cheese

    Karin and Ken
    Jalapeno Macaroni and Cheese is full of rich flavors including three of my favorite things, ranch dressing, jalapeños and macaroni and cheese.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 35 minutes mins
    Resting Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 507 kcal

    Equipment

    • Measuring cups and spoons
    • saucepan
    • casserole dish
    • large bowl

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 jalapeno chopped
    • 6 cups lightly cooked rotini noodles
    • 1 12-ounce can evaporated milk
    • 2 cups cheddar shredded
    • 2 cups colby jack cheese shredded
    • 1 packet ranch seasoning
    • 1 cup sour cream
    • ¼ cup butter softened
    • black pepper to taste
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare your noodles until almost cooked. Drain and set aside.
    • In a large bowl, mix together noodles, evaporated milk, cheddar, colby jack, ranch, sour cream, butter, and chopped jalapenos.
    • One thing to remember about this step is that you want to make sure your noodle to cheese ratio is properly balanced. Add too much and it’s overwhelming, add too little and it falls flat so for this recipe I am adding roughly three cups of cheese. I love cheddar, but since I wanted this dish to have a little kick I am splitting my cheese portion to result in half triple cheddar and half Pepper Jack.
    • Spray a casserole dish with nonstick, and fill with macaroni mixture. Top with extra cheese and pepper.
    • Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until top is golden and bubbling.
    • Remove from oven and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
    • Serve and enjoy every bite!

    Video

    Notes

    • Cheese it right: Picking the right blend of cheeses can really make your spicy macaroni and cheese taste so much better. Choose 3 or more cheeses for the best balance of texture and flavor. Colby, Monterey Jack, cheddar and Parmesan are all great choices. 
    • Shred it at home: Packaged, pre-shredded cheeses can be more convenient, but for this recipe, I would highly urge you to shred your own cheese at home for the best flavor and creaminess.
    • Top it right: For that nice and crispy crust on the top of the pasta bake, add some breadcrumbs in addition to the shredded cheese. Crushed crispy bacon is a great option too! 
    • Salt your pasta water: It makes such a difference in the taste of pasta and the overall dish.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 507kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 28gFat: 43gSaturated Fat: 25gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 122mgSodium: 939mgPotassium: 276mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1316IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 622mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword jalapeno mac and cheese, jalapeno macaroni and cheese, spicy mac and cheese
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    This post was originally published February 2016. It's been updated with new content and images.

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    We are the kitchen divas: Karin and my partner in life, Ken.

    We have been attached at the heart and hip since the first day we met, and we love to create new dishes to keep things interesting. Variety is definitely the spice of life!

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