Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese
Ingredients: onion, garlic, scallions, thick cut bacon, uncooked pasta · 30 min cook time · 750kcal · $15.50
Ingredients
0.5ea onion, 2ea garlic, 2대 scallions, 0.5pound thick cut bacon, 12ounces uncooked pasta, 2cups water, 2cups milk, 3slices American cheese, 0.25teaspoon cayenne pepper, 0.25teaspoon sweet paprika, 4ounces Gruyere or cheddar cheese, 0.25cup cream cheese, 0.33cup pickled jalapenos, to taste kosher salt, to taste black pepper, 0.5cup panko breadcrumbs, 2ounces Parmesan cheese
Instructions
1. Dice the half onion, mince the garlic removing the germ, and thinly slice the scallions separating the greens and whites.
2. Cut about a half pound of frozen bacon into bite-sized strips and place in a cold 12-inch cast iron skillet with a quarter cup of water.
3. Bring to a simmer over medium high heat, then drop to medium, stirring occasionally until water evaporates and bacon is crisp, about 5 to 7 minutes.
4. Fish out the bacon and drain on paper towels, reserving the bacon fat.
5. Return skillet to medium heat with 1 to 2 tablespoons of bacon fat, add diced onion and scallion whites, and saute for 3 to 5 minutes until soft and starting to brown.
6. Add crushed garlic and saute for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
7. Add 12 ounces of uncooked pasta, 2 cups of water, and almost enough milk to cover the pasta. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook stirring every 2 minutes until pasta is cooked evenly.
8. Add three slices of American cheese, quarter teaspoon each of cayenne pepper and sweet paprika, cooking over low heat until melted.
9. Turn off heat and grate 4 ounces of Gruyere or cheddar, add quarter cup of cubed cream cheese, scallion greens, pickled jalapenos, season with salt and pepper, and mix in crispy bacon.
10. In a separate bowl, combine half cup panko breadcrumbs with 2 ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese, and sprinkle evenly over the top of the mac and cheese.
11. Bake in a preheated 375-degree Fahrenheit oven until top is browned and crunchy and cheese is bubbly, about 20 minutes.
12. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
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