Jalapeño Bacon Mac

Now that Texas has started to get cold it is time for our favorite comfort foods to be entered into our dinner rotation.  One of Ryan's favorites is my jalapeño bacon mac n' cheese.  If you follow me on Instagram then you have probably seen me photograph my bowl a time or two...and since then I have had numerous requests to share my recipe.  So in honor of it almost being Thanksgiving I decided to share this DELICIOUS meal with you!!

What you will need:
16 oz Elbow macaroni pasta
2 cloves garlic
1 Tsp Onion Powder
2 C whole Milk
1/4 flour
6 C sharp Cheddar
2 cups Panko Bread Crumbs
1 package of jalapeño bacon (or regular)
3-4 Jalapeños (can be omitted if you do not like it HOT)
1/2 cup butter (melted)
salt annd pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 400 F
The first thing that I do (besides heat the oven up) is boil water for my pasta in a large stock pot.  While the water is boiling I chop up my Jalapeños (I do not de-seed mine because we like it HOT).  I also cook all the bacon per the instructions in the microwave to save time, but you can easily cook it in a skillet (if you do not have jalapeño bacon saute jalapeños with your bacon while cooking it).

Once the water boils I add the pasta and cook it per the instructions. Chop the bacon up and set it aside.  One the pasta is done, drain it, and set it aside for later.

Using the same stock pot add 2 tbs butter and saute the garlic until tender over medium heat.  Add the diced Jalapeños and onion powder into the mixture and cook until soft.

 Next add the milk and flour stirring until the mixture starts to thicken.  Once the mixture thickens add 3 cups of cheese stirring until the cheese is completely melted.  Add pasta and continue to stir until the pasta is coated by the mixture.

Add the remaining cheese stirring constantly and the bacon.  Stir until mixture it is evenly distributed.  You can also add salt and pepper to taste here.

Pour the pasta mixture into a 9x11 Pyrex dish, evenly distributing it as you go.

In a separate bowl melt the remaining butter, stirring in the bread crumbs.  Coat the crumbs and add them to the top of the mac n cheese.

Place the dish in the oven on the middle rack for 20-25 min or until the bread crumbs start to brown.

Serve and Enjoy!

** Feel free to omit the jalapeños or bacon if you do not like things spicy, you can also de-seed the jalapeños to make it a little more mild.

Amelia B.