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jalapeno popper mac & cheese

$6.98 recipe / $1.16 serving

Can I single handedly undo all of the healthy things I accomplished with the Quinoa and Black Bean Tacos? Challenge accepted. (I know, it's like I have split food personalities sometimes.)

This is a super ooey-gooey white cheese mac with spicy jalapenos and zesty green chiles. I could have made it more "popper" like by topping it with some buttered bread crumbs and baking it in the oven, but I'm a little impatient when it comes to mac and cheese. If I just finished cooking it on the stove top, I really don't want to wait another half hour for it to come out of the oven (am I right?). I also contemplated topping it with bits of crisp bacon, but again that would have delayed my enjoyment of this creamy delight. But those are both tasty options if you've got time to spare.

This mac n cheese whips up really fast and doesn't require a roux based cheese sauce, which can be tricky for new cooks (or just those new to cheese sauces). It's super rich, so I estimated a serving to be just a cup. That's all I needed before the cheese sensors in my brain quieted down and drifted into a satiated slumber.

Jalapeno Popper Mac & Cheese

Total Recipe cost: $6.98
Servings Per Recipe: 6 (1 cup each)
Cost per serving: $1.16
Prep time: 5 min. Cook time: 20 min. Total: 25 min.

INGREDIENTS		COST
12 oz.	uncooked elbow macaroni*	$1.80
1 Tbsp	vegetable oil	$0.02
1 clove	garlic, minced	$0.08
1 cup	milk	$0.25
4 oz.	cream cheese	$0.93
1/4 cup	grated parmesan	$0.42
1/2 cup	sour cream	$0.43
1 (4 oz.) can	sliced jalapenos	$0.89
1 (4 oz.) can	diced green chiles (mild)	$0.89
1/4 tsp	salt	$0.02
1 cup	shredded pepper jack cheese	$1.25
TOTAL		$6.98

*I used Dreamfield pasta as a feeble attempt to make this not so unhealthy. *eye roll*

STEP 1: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and then add the pasta. Let it continue to boil until it is soft (about 10 minutes).

STEP 2: While the pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce. In a medium sauce pot, cook the garlic in vegetable oil for about 1-2 minutes or just until soft and fragrant. Add the milk, cream cheese, and grated parmesan. Continue to stir and cook over medium heat until the cream cheese is warm and softened. Use a whisk to stir the ingredients together until smooth.

STEP 3: Turn the heat down to low and then whisk in the sour cream. Drain the jalapenos and green chiles and then stir into the sauce. Taste the sauce and add 1/4 tsp of salt if needed.

STEP 4: When the pasta is finished cooking, drain it in a colander. Return the drained pasta to the pot (heat turned off), pour the sauce over top, and stir until well mixed. Sprinkle the shredded pepper jack over top and then stir in. The heat from the sauce and noodles should be enough to melt the cheese. Serve hot!

Jalapeno Popper Mac n Cheese

Step By Step Photos

First get your pasta cooking (I forgot to take a picture of that), then begin the sauce. Saute a clove of minced garlic in vegetable oil over medium heat for about 1-2 minutes or just until it softens a bit.

milk cheese

Then add the milk, cream cheese, and parmesan. Stir and cook this mixture over medium heat until the cream cheese is warm and softened enough to whisk into the milk. Whisk until the mixture is smooth.

Then turn the heat down to low and whisk in the sour cream.

jalapenos chiles

Drain the liquid from the jalapenos and chiles (my chiles didn't really have any excess moistures, but if they do, go ahead and drain them). Stir the jalapenos and chiles in the sauce.

finished sauce

Then it will look like this. Give it a taste and add a little (1/4 tsp) of salt if needed.

add pasta

When the pasta is finished cooking, drain it in a colander and then return it to the pot with the heat turned off. Pour the sauce on top and stir until combined.