Spicy Mac and Cheese

Name: Spicy Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 12 ounces large elbow pasta; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter; 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 2 1/2 cups whole milk; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard; 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese; 1 1/2 cups shredded Pepper Jack cheese; Hot sauce for serving (optional)

A Spicy Mac and Cheese that is lip-smacking good.

Mac and cheese has been a staple side for most Americans for decades but the days of boxed mac and cheese are behind us as people are discovering the joys of elevating their mac and cheese, this recipe will do just that. I think this would be a Chester Cheetah favorite for any Flaming Hot Cheetos fan. It has everything you could want from a pasta dish. Spice, cheesiness, pasta, and the possibility to do so much more. It is fair to say this dish has things heating up in the kitchen and on the dinner table with this meal.

If you want to step things up in your Spicy Mac and Cheese dish you can add lobster, shrimp, crab, bacon, ground beef, or chicken. Or you could add vegetables like broccoli, peas, tomatoes, basil, sun-dried tomatoes, chives, and garlic. Let Spicy Mac and Cheese be your base and add whatever else you’d like to taste. There are so many options when it comes to this dish. Let your imagination be your guide. If you’re like me and think cheese makes everything better than adding anything you would put cheese on into your mac and cheese will always be a winner.

Spicy Mac and Cheese is a kick in the mouth but in the best kind of way. It is cheesy, carbohydrate-heavy, spicy, and did I mention cheesy?! This is the kind of dish I get asked to make a lot and I happily make it because I not so secretly want it too. It is not too spicy where you feel like you are breathing fire but rather it has kind of a quick heat in the back of the mouth. The kind of heat that makes you go, oh I want more.

Why elbow macaroni?

There are hundreds of types of pasta because with every dish comes the perfect pasta pairing. Granted, you can always get creative and change out the pasta a dish recommends but maybe consider why that pasta shape was chosen before doing so. Spicy Mac and Cheese is as it states, a cheese-based pasta. For cheesy sauce pasta, it’s best to have shapes that will hold the slippery sauce to it. Funnel or u-shaped kinds of pasta like elbow macaroni not only gets coated in the sauce but captures the sauce in it like a pocket of flavor within its shape.

Other shapes that would be good alternatives to macaroni would be penne, ziti, rigatoni, fusilli, cannelloni, rotelle, ditalini, shells, pipe rigate, and rigate. All these pasta shapes create little cheesy pockets that your sauce can purposefully sneak into.

Ingredients

12 ounces large elbow pasta
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded Pepper Jack cheese
Hot sauce for serving (optional)

Instructions

Prep time – 15 minutes

Cooking time – 10 minutes

Yields – 6 servings

Step 1: Boil pasta: Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to the package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.

Step 2: Make roux: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes to create a roux.

Step 3: Add milk and spices: Gradually whisk in the milk to avoid lumps. Stir in the salt, black pepper, dry mustard, and cayenne pepper. Continue to simmer, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens slightly. Remember not to let it boil.

Step 4: Melt cheese: Reduce the heat to low and add the shredded cheddar and Pepper Jack cheeses. Stir until the cheeses are completely melted and the sauce is smooth.

Step 5: Combine pasta and cheese sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce, stirring to coat the pasta evenly. Cook for an additional minute to ensure everything is heated through.

Easy Homemade Bolognese Sauce

Step 6: Serve hot: Transfer the spicy mac and cheese to serving dishes. If desired, drizzle with hot sauce for an extra kick. Serve immediately and enjoy the comforting warmth with a spicy twist!

FAQs & Tips

How to make a Spicy Mac and Cheese to remember?

Adjust spices to taste. Don’t be afraid to add spices that make your taste buds dance. Feel free to throw in vegetables, proteins, or herbs. Bacon and Spicy Mac and Cheese go well together. Get creative.

What is the secret to a good cheese sauce?

Grate a fresh block of cheese into your sauce. The thicker the sauce the better it sticks to the pasta and creamier it feels so grating fresh cheese into the sauce keeps it thick.

Is Spicy Mac and Cheese a good leftover?

Yes, it is one of the best but like many good things, it only lasts for so long. Spicy mac and cheese is like pizza it’s even good cold, while it loses a lot of its creaminess when cold because of the cheese setting the flavor still can’t be beat.

How long does Spicy Mac and Cheese last in the fridge?

The shelf life when stored properly covered in the fridge is three days. You can freeze it and thaw for later for a longer shelf life, about two to three months.

Serving Suggestions

Spicy Mac and Cheese can be served in several ways. For example, it can be served alone on a bun, with an added protein, or with another dish. Grilled Peach Ice Cream, Salmon Patties, Oven-Baked Asparagus with Garlic & Parmesan, Crock-Pot® Slow Cooker Apple Cider Ham, Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Onions, and Apple Butter Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting are other dishes I would pair with nice Spicy Mac and Cheese.