The BEST Jalapeño Bacon Mac and Cheese! #macncheese #jalapeño #bacon 🧀🥓🌶️

March 20, 2024
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Ingredients:

*Ingredients are for a double batch (party sized for 16-20 people), half the ingredients if you want less (for 6-8 people).

2 lbs. of your favorite pasta (I used Fusilli)
2 packages of bacon chopped
3 fresh jalapenos diced
5 tbsp bacon grease
5 tbsp unsalted butter
10 tbsp flour
16 ounces of heavy cream
Milk added until a runny creamy consistency (I used 2%)
1 16 ounce block of white cheddar cheese grated
1 16 ounce block of Monterey Jack cheese grated
1 tbsp garlic powder
Black pepper to taste
Italian bread crumbs (about 1/2 cup or so until top is coated with thin layer)
Fresh grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese


Cooking Instructions:
Start by frying up a package of chopped bacon until crispy and put aside. Remove the bacon grease and wipe out pot, then add about 5 tablespoons of bacon grease and 5 tablespoons of butter back to pot. Dice three jalapenos and add almost all to the pot, saving a little for later. Saute for about 3 minutes on medium then add most of the bacon, saving a little of that for later as well. Slowly add 10 tablespoons of flour about 2-3 tablespoons at a time until a roux is formed. Drop your preferred pasta in boiling, salted water. Add in about 16 ounces of heavy cream, stir and add milk in increments until you get a slightly creamy consistency, I like to add a little pasta water as well to help thin it out a bit. Add in fresh grated sharp white cheddar and Monterey jack a handful at a time and stir until melted in. Continue this until both blocks are finished. If it begins to get too thick then add a little pasta water to thin it out a bit. Add a tablespoon of garlic powder and some fresh black pepper to taste. Add the al dente pasta to a tray and pour over the cheese sauce. Give it a mix then sprinkle on some Italian bread crumbs, the remaining diced jalapenos, the bacon bits and finish with some fresh grated pecorino romano or parmesan. Pop it in a 425 degree oven for 15-20 minutes until bread crumbs are golden brown.


Cook Time: 30 mins


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