Emma Spicy Mac n cheese to make at home
It’s no secret we like mac and cheese. This is an easy recipe which makes a creamy cheesy sauce baked mac and cheese with a hint of spice and plenty of cheese taste. We have used Ilchester Nightmare on Market Street cheese which is available from Morrisons at the moment. Ilchester also have a Mexicana cheese which is available all year round and could be used in its place.
Once you have got the homemade mac and cheese recipe sorted, you can add so many things to it to customise your mac n cheese to take it to the next level. From different cheeses to adding vegetables for a whole new level of classic comfort food.
Perfect for a comfort food dinner, a holiday side dish for days such as Christmas and, if you celebrate, Thanksgiving. The full recipe is in the recipe card below.
Looking for a creamy traditional style mac n cheese?
Ingredients you will need
Type of Pasta – use your favourite pasta it doesn’t have to be elbow macaroni – Rigatoni, Farfalle, Radiatore, Shells any short pasta can be used.
Unsalted butter and flour, which you’ll use to form the roux that thickens our sauce
Milk. Any type is OK, we generally have full-fat milk in our house.
Grated cheese – grate your own, it’s much fresher.
Garlic
Nacho chips – any type will do. We used Doritos Dippers with a hint of smoked paprika just for an extra bit of warmth.
Jalapeño peppers – we used ones out of a jar, or you could use fresh chillies. Just depends on how hot you like your spice.
Equipment you will need
Spicy Macaroni Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
2 tbsp butter
350g macaroni or your favourite short pasta
1 garlic clove, finely chopped or use 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
3 tbsp plain flour
500ml milk
300g Illchester Nightmare on Market Street or Illchester Mexicana if not available.
Nachos, crushed – enough to cover the oven dish
Jalapeño – to your taste
Method
Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
Boil the pasta in a large saucepan until it is al dente.
Melt butter in a saucepan.
Add the garlic and cook for 1 min.
Stir in the plain flour and cook for a minute more, then gradually whisk in the milk.
Simmer the sauce, continually stirring, until it thickens.
Take the saucepan off the heat and stir in 250g of the cheese.
Stir in the creamy cheese sauce into the pasta
Pour the pasta mix into a large ovenproof or casserole dish
Scatter over the crushed nachos, jalapeños and the rest of the grated cheese.
Bake until the cheese has melted.
spicy macaroni and cheese
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 350 g macaroni or your favourite short pasta
- 1 garlic clove finely chopped or use 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 3 tbsp plain flour
- 500 ml milk
- 300 g Illchester Nightmare on Market Street or Illchester Mexicana if not available.
- Nachos crushed - enough to cover the oven dish
- Jalapeño - to your taste
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
- Boil the pasta in a large saucepan until it is al dente.
- Melt butter in a saucepan.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 min.
- Stir in the plain flour and cook for a minute more, then gradually whisk in the milk.
- Simmer the sauce, continually stirring, until it thickens.
- Take the saucepan off the heat and stir in 250g of the cheese.
- Stir in the creamy cheese sauce into the pasta
- Pour the pasta mix into a large ovenproof or casserole dish
- Scatter over the crushed nachos, jalapeños and the rest of the grated cheese.
- Bake until the cheese has melted.
Substitutions
Mac and cheese is such a good recipe for adding things to. It is very fridge and kitchen-cupboard-friendly.
Protein – add cooked chicken, chorizo, sliced cooked sausage, diced cooked ham or cooked bacon into the cheese sauce.
More spice – this is a medium-heat recipe. dd more spice by adding diced jalapenos, cayenne pepper, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, chilli flakes or chilli powder.
Vegetables – broccoli, kale, cauliflower and caramelised onions all go well with mac and cheese.
Can this Spiced Mac and Cheese recipe be made in advance?
Yes, this recipe is easy to make in advance. Make the sauce and pasta as directed, transfer to a baking dish and let it cool. Place in an airtight container and store in the fridge for 2-3 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months. Although we have usually munched this quickly!
Can I reheat leftover spiced mac and cheese?
You can reheat leftover mac and cheese in the microwave, oven or air fryer. We like to reheat it in the air fryer or oven as it gives a good crispy topping. Add your leftover mac and cheese onto an oven-proof dish and bake at 200C/180C fan/gas 6 until heated through – the time will depend on your oven.
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