This spicy baked mac and cheese with bold and spicy flavors is a spicy twist on the classic mac and cheese will be your new comfort food! It is cheesy, tasty, and satisfying - with a fiery edge! The bold habanero-jalapeño cheddar and a touch of chili flakes, it delivers just the right kick.
Why this mac and cheese?
This spicy mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food! The creamy richness of mac and cheese meets the bold heat of habanero-jalapeño cheddar, creating layers of flavor that go far beyond the classic version. This is the most loved food in our home. Try making the mac and cheese like this and you'll always love it and won't turn to the boxed versions.
With a golden, crunchy pine nut and breadcrumb crust as topping, every bite is rich, flavorful, and satisfying. The topping is optional but adds amazing texture and taste to the pasta.
It’s packed with veggies like vibrant green broccoli and sweet orange carrots, making it a wholesome option too.
This is easy and quick to make. I prefer to add the veggies while boiling pasta as it helps save time. Add the carrots along with elbow pasta and it cooks perfect in five minutes. Broccoli, cauliflower, peas, or corn can be added for the last one minute as they cook faster. When the pasta cooks, make the sauce, mix and bake.
With its festive mix of colors and creamy goodness, this dish is perfect for a cozy festive meal!
Ingredients
Macaroni - the classic elbow pasta
Garlic
Carrots, broccoli, peas
Habanero cheese, mozarella cheese, and Jack cheese - a blend of cheese gives amazing favor and the cheese oull effect
Butter, heavy cream, half anf half - for the rich and creamy flavor
Black pepper powder, chili flakes - adjust this to suit your palette
Salt - gives flavor
bread crumbs and inenuts add a lovely crunchy texture and flavor.
Oregano - boosts flavor
Storage
Honestly, this gets over so quickly that it is impossible to have leftovers. You'll have to make a fresh batch! If any leftovers, you can refrigerate well for a couple of days. When needed, warm in the oven and serve.
Making ahead
You can make this ahead till the baking step. Just refrigerate and add the toppings when needed to be baked. This would be fit for a weeknight dinner or for feast. This is a huge crowd pleaser and is easy to make.
More Cheesy Pasta Recipes
Mac and cheese is a versatile comfort food and many variations of it are possible and are delicious too! This Chipotle Mac and Cheese with leftover Instant Pot Slow Cooked Chipotle Corn Chowder is thoroughly comforting and no doubt about that!.
Baked Pastas are always amazing when the weather is cold. And Mexican Pasta Bake, Baked Feta Pasta, Paneer, Masoor Dha, and Veggie Lasagna are amazing choices that can be doubled to make weeknight meals easier. The creamy pastas like Curried Roasted Cauliflower with Curried Alfredo Pasta and Gluten-Free Vegan Cilantro Cream Quinoa Spaghetti are perfect for weekend meals. The simple and delicious Angel Hair Pomodoro is all time comfort meal that noone can deny!
Spicy Baked Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups Elbow pasta
- Water to cook pasta
- 2 tsp Salt
- 1 cup Broccoli florets
- ½ cup Peas frozen
- ⅔ cup Carrots sliced
For the sauce
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 1 tbsp Garlic finely chopped
- 3 tsp Flour
- 1¾ cups Half and half
- 1 cup Heavy cream
- ⅔ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Black pepper powder
- 1 tsp Chili flakes
- ¾ cup Jack cheese shredded
- ¾ cup Mozzarella cheese shredded
- ¾ cup Habanero and jalapeno cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ tsp Dried parsley
For the topping (optional)
- ¼ cup Bread crumbs
- ¼ cup Pine nuts
- ⅛ tsp Garlic powder
- ½ tsp Parsley
- a pinch Salt
Instructions
- Topping: Mix all the ingredients for the topping and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Bring a pot of water to boil and when it boils add salt and a teaspoon of olive oil. Add the pasta and carrots. Cook for five minutes. Add the broccoli and peas, cook for a minute and drain. Set aside.
- Heat a pan on medium flame. Add the butter and when it is melted add the garlic. Saute for 40-50 seconds. Add the flour and cook for 30-50 seconds, till the raw smell goes, but do not let it brwon.
- Add the half and half, cream, salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Mix and simmer for 2 minutes. Add half cup of each cheese, mix.
- Add the cooked pasta and veggies, and mix. Add the parsley.
- Transfer to a ovensafe bowl. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Sprinkle the bread crumb pine nut mixture.
- Bake for 25 minutes , the mixture will be golden on top and bubbly. Remove from the oven.
- Serve warm.
Must Make Macaroni Recipes
- Baked Macaroni and Cheese Bites from Creative Cynchronicity
- Beer and Brats Mac and Cheese from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
- Club Sandwich Macaroni Salad from That Recipe
- Fusilli with green beans, pancetta, and Parmesan from Karen's Kitchen Stories
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Srivalli says
We love mac and cheese. The options you have included sound so yummy Radha. There was a time when I used to make this so regularly...I have started making it over the stovetop.. a great meal!
Rafeeda AR says
I love how creamy your pasta and mac looks even after baking... Totally looks absolutely delicious...
Karen's Kitchen Stories says
This sounds extra amazing with the spicy cheese. Right up my alley!
magicalingrdnts says
You'll love this. Thanks, Karen!
Christie says
That is one spicy looking mac and cheese! I have tried habanero cheese and is SUPER spicy! I can't wait to try this.
magicalingrdnts says
It is spicy and tasty! Thanks Christie.