• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hot Rod's Recipes
  • Browse Recipes
  • How-To
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Videos
  • How-To
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Videos
    • How-To
    • About
    • Subscribe
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Gourmet Mac & Cheese

    Bacon Jalapeño Mac and Cheese

    Published on June 10, 2017 - Updated on January 16, 2023 by Chef Rodney - Leave a Comment - This post may contain affiliate links.

    1 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    This Bacon Jalapeño Mac & Cheese is Spicy and Cheesy. I love spicy but this recipe is so versatile you can omit the Jalapeños to your liking
     
    Bacon Jalapeno Mac & Cheese

    I love spicy food. I also like gourmet Mac & Cheese dishes. So why wouldn't I like this Bacon Jalapeño Mac and Cheese recipe?

    What I really like about this recipe is that you can easily control the heat by modifying the number of jalapeños you add. Want less spicy, fewer jalapeños. Want more heat, add more jalapeños! That simple.

    Bacon Jalapeno Mac & Cheese

    This Mac & Cheese is packed with flavor and a sidekick of heat! If you don't like spicy food, you can completely omit the jalapeños. I've never made it without the jalapeños but I'm sure it would turn out great. Only thing is you will be missing out for sure!

    💭 Recipe Tip

    While you can pretty much use any brand of cream cheese, I highly recommend you use Philadelphia brand cream cheese. You will taste the difference.

    philadelphia cream cheese

    If you've ever wondered what part of the pig Bacon comes from check out the picture below. Surprised?

    Pork Cuts Diagram

    🥓 How to Make Bacon

    If you struggle to make bacon perfectly, I've put together a short tutorial on How to Make Perfect Bacon - 3 Ways. Check it out! My preferred method is baking it in the oven.

    And don't throw away that bacon grease! Bacon is expensive and the grease is great for making Scrambled Eggs, Grilled Cheese, Popcorn and even hash browns. It can keep up to 3 months if properly stored in the refrigerator.

    Air Fried Bacon

    For more of my great Macaroni & Cheese recipes, make sure you check out my collection of Gourmet Mac & Cheese Recipes. Some of my favorites are my Mexican Taco Mac & Cheese, my Easy Baked Mac and Cheese, my Low and Slow Mac & Cheese and my Whiskey Macaroni and Cheese.

    🌶 How to Handle Hot Peppers

    The capsaicin in hot peppers is what makes peppers hot. If you handle hot peppers gloveless, it’s a guarantee that you’re in for a nasty case of chili burn, both on your fingers and anywhere you rub. Like your face. Ouch!

    Even if you wear disposable gloves, be careful about what you touch. The gloves are going to protect your fingers, but touching any part of your body with the gloves after you’ve handled hot peppers can lead to severe chili burn. Resist the temptation to rub your eyes. Wait until you’ve removed your gloves and washed your hands thoroughly with soap.

    fresh jalapeños
    Fresh Jalapeños

    🌡️ How Hot are the Peppers

    The Scoville Scale is the measurement that tells you the spiciness of a given type of pepper.

    Pepper TypeScoville Rating (Heat)
    Bell Pepper0-0
    Banana Pepper0-500
    Poblano Pepper1000-1500
    Jalapeño Pepper2500-8000
    Serrano Peppers10,000-25,000
    Manzano Pepper12,000-30,000
    Tabasco & Cayenne30,000-50,000
    Habanero Pepper100,000-300,000
    Ghost Pepper855,000-1,000,000
    Carolina Reaper1,500,000-2,300,000
    Bacon Jalapeno Mac & Cheese

    💭 What is Al Dente

    When making Mac and Cheese, it's important to cook the pasta al dente to ensure to best texture possible. If you are not familiar with the term "al dente", it means cooking the pasta so it's still chewy and form and that it will hold its shape when the sauce is added to it.

    For more great recipes with Cheddar Cheese and Jalapeños, I suggest you check these recipes out:

    • Slow Cooker Nacho Soup
    • Spaghetti Squash with Peppers and Beans
    • Spicy Chicken Chili

    📋 What Ingredients do I need

    You will need the following ingredients to make this Bacon Jalapeño Mac & Cheese recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Vegetable Oil, Yellow Onion, Jalapeños, Garlic Cloves, Macaroni, Milk, Cream Cheese, Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, Soda Crackers and Salt & Pepper.

    🥣 How to Make Bacon Jalapeño Mac and Cheese

    Place oil, onion, jalapeños, and garlic into a large skillet and sauté over medium heat until the onions are translucent and fragrant.
    Meanwhile, bring a pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add your macaroni noodles and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside.
    Place the milk and cheese into the skillet and whisk until the cheese has melted approximately 10 minutes.
    Season with salt and pepper.
    Mix your macaroni noodles into your sauce until well combined.
    Add the crushed crackers and bacon pieces on top. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.

    Bacon Jalapeno Mac & Cheese

    Bacon Jalapeño Mac and Cheese

    This Bacon Jalapeño Mac & Cheese is Spicy and Cheesy. I love spicy but this recipe is so versatile you can omit the Jalapeños to your liking
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 440 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 tablespoon Vegetable Oil
    • ½ Cup Yellow Onion, Chopped
    • 1 Fresh Jalapeño, Finely Diced
    • 2 Garlic Cloves, Minced
    • 16 oz Elbow Macaroni
    • 2 Cups Milk
    • 8 oz Cream Cheese, Softened
    • 8 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
    • 1 Pkg Bacon, Cooked and Diced
    • 1 Sleeve Soda Crackers, Finely Crushed
    • Salt and Pepper, to Taste
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Place oil, onion, jalapeños, and garlic into a large skillet and sauté over medium heat until the onions are translucent and fragrant.
    • Meanwhile, bring a pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add your macaroni noodles and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside.
    • Place the milk and cheese into the skillet and whisk until the cheese has melted, approximately 10 minutes.
    • Season with salt and pepper.
    • Mix your macaroni noodles into your sauce until well combined.
    • Add the crushed crackers and bacon pieces on top. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.

    Notes

    → I recommend wearing disposable gloves when cutting hot peppers. Avoid touching your face.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 440kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 18gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 341mgPotassium: 319mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 560IUVitamin C: 3.1mgCalcium: 331mgIron: 1mg

    Nutritional information provided for this recipe is based on 1 serving. This information is an estimate and may vary based on several factors. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with a Registered Dietitian.

    Tried this Recipe?Leave a Comment below and share a picture on Instagram and tag @hot_rods_recipes and hashtag #hotrodsrecipes!

    More Gourmet Mac & Cheese Recipes

    • Baked Gouda Mac and Cheese
    • Gnocchi Mac and Cheese
    • Copycat Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese
    • Copycat Boston Market Mac and Cheese
    hot rods recipes

    Reader Interactions

    leave comment and rating! Cancel reply

    We would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please choose a star rating. Thanks!

    Recipe Rating:




    Before a comment appears it needs to be approved by the site owner. Read our Comment Policy to see how your comment data is processed. Your email address will NOT be published.

    Primary Sidebar

    Chef Rodney Headshot

    Hi! I'm Rodney and welcome to my blog. I am a foodie and self-taught cook. See More →

    Trending Recipes

    • Pineapple Sauce for Ham
    • Cinnamon Donut Bread
    • Cinnamon Sugar Beaver Tails
    • French Canadian Sugar Pie

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    Recipes

    • Recipe Index
    • Copycat Recipes
    • Pressure Cooking
    • Celebrity Chef Recipes

    About

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Recipe Disclaimer
    • Contact Us

    Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Copyright © 2015-2023 The Ventucky Chef, LLC. All rights reserved.