Spicy Mac and Cheese

Name: Spicy Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups elbow macaroni pasta, uncooked; ⅓ cup unsalted butter; 4 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour; 2 ½ cups milk; ½ teaspoon mustard powder; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste); 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, divided; 1 tablespoon tabasco sauce or hot sauce (to taste)

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This Spicy Mac and Cheese is a spicy version of a beloved classic that takes this cheesy pasta to the next level. It's made with tender cooked pasta in a creamy cheese sauce and seasoned with paprika, cayenne pepper, and Tabasco hot sauce for a kick. Top it off this meal with extra cheese for a creamy, cheesy pasta dish that will make you sweat!

This Spicy Mac and Cheese recipe is a spicy version of a beloved classic that takes this cheesy pasta to the next level with added spices for a kick. | aheadofthyme.com

If you love spicy food, this spicy mac and cheese is one of the very best comfort foods! The creamy noodles have a soothing flavor and texture, but that hint of spice builds and builds. You'll feel so warm and cozy! Serve it as simple dinner or a holiday side dish, and get ready for your family to ask for the recipe. It'll be a new family favorite!

Why You'll Love This Spicy Mac and Cheese

So cheesy. The homemade cheese sauce is full of sharp cheddar cheese, which adds a creamy, cheesy flavor to every single bite. Don't forget to add extra cheese on top!
Completely homemade. Unlike the boxed stuff, this spicy mac and cheese casserole recipe is made completely from scratch. It has just a handful of simple ingredients and spices too, so it's an easy side dish to whip up on busy weeknights.
Ultimate comfort food. Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food favorite. Everyone loves a bowl of warm, creamy mac. The spices and hot sauce balance the cheesy sauce so well! You won't be able to stop at one serving.

Ingredient Notes

To make this delicious spicy mac and cheese, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

elbow macaroni - stick with regular elbow macaroni for a traditional mac, or try a different noodle for fun. Some fun options are farfelle (bowtie), penne, or shells.
butter - use unsalted butter to create a roux to thicken the cheese sauce.
flour - whisk the all purpose flour into the melted butter on the stove and gradually stir in milk to create a thick, creamy sauce.
milk - this thins out the roux until the sauce has the perfect consistency.
spices - season your homemade mac and cheese with mustard powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Feel free to add some black pepper or garlic powder, too.
cheddar cheese - use sharp shredded cheddar cheese. Don't forget to save some to melt on top!
hot sauce - we recommend using Tabasco brand hot sauce for the perfect tanginess and heat.

You will also need a large pot, strainer, large saucepan, whisk, and baking dish.

How to Make the Best Spicy Mac and Cheese

Cook pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add macaroni pasta and cook just until before al dente, about 6-8 minutes (you want it slightly undercooked as it will cook further when baked). Drain well, rinse with cold water, and set aside.

Make roux. In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour to make a roux. Stir constantly for about 1-2 minutes until roux is light and golden.

Add milk. Gradually add in milk, whisking constantly to incorporate. The sauce will thicken and clump in the beginning but once you add in more milk, it will smoothen out again.

Add cheese and seasoning. Add mustard powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, 2 cups of cheddar cheese, and tabasco sauce. Reduce heat to low and stir constantly until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth.

Toss together. Add in cooked macaroni and stir together to fully coat with the cheese sauce.

Top with cheese. Transfer the macaroni into a large oven-proof skillet or casserole dish. Top with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese.

Bake. Bake in a 350° F preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and the edges become crispy. Let it cool for 5 minutes.

Serve. Serve immediately. Add more hot sauce if desired.

Recipe Variations

Add breadcrumbs. For a Southern mac, add panko breadcrumbs. For extra flavor, you can crumble hot Cheetos and use them to make a breadcrumb topping like this classic baked mac and cheese!
Stir in jalapeño peppers. Add roasted or pickled jalapenos for an extra kick! Roasted green chile is great for this, too.
Add different types of cheese. Although cheddar is a classic choice, you can also use Monterey jack cheese, pepperjack, mozzarella, smoked gouda, and other good melting cheeses.
Make it meaty. Stir in some browned ground beef or spicy sausage, like chorizo.

How to Serve

This Spicy Mac and Cheese is delicious served on its own, or paired with some of my favorite entrees including:

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Salt the pasta water. This draws out flavor from the noodles from the beginning, making every bite more flavorful.
Make it extra cheesy. For a really concentrated cheese flavor, add a tablespoon or two of cheese powder.
Less is more. When you first add cayenne to a recipe, it might not taste very spicy at first. However, the heat will continue to build. Give it some time! You can always add more, but you can't remove it.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Let the baking dish cool to room temperature, then store the mac and cheese leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

How to Reheat

You can either pop a serving in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or bake your leftovers in the oven or air fryer at 350F for 4-5 minutes. You can also warm it up in a pan on the stove top. Add a little extra milk and cheese to keep it from being too dry.

How to Freeze

You can freeze mac and cheese to enjoy later, but the pasta will soften a bit after thawing. For best results, freeze mac and cheese right before baking. Thaw it in the fridge overnight, then bake it like normal!

FAQ

What can I add to mac and cheese to spice it up?

There are so many ways to take an ordinary mac and cheese recipe to the next level! Try adding these ingredients to spice things up:
- Add hot sauce for a spicy cheese sauce
- Sprinkle cayenne pepper, chipotle pepper, or red pepper flakes
- Grate in some pepper jack cheese
- Stir in fresh jalapeños or roasted green chile
- Crush Hot Cheetos into bread crumbs for a crunchy topping
- Saute some spicy sausage for a little bit of a kick

Can you put hot sauce on mac and cheese?

You can put hot sauce on anything! It's a fantastic ingredient to add to mac and cheese because the tangy, briny hot sauce cuts the rich, cheesy sauce so well. In fact, many chefs like to add a little hot sauce to regular mac and cheese to balance the flavors. We like to add even more for a spicy baked mac that warms you up from the inside out!

How do you tone down spicy mac and cheese?

If you need to cool down a scorching mac and cheese, stir in a dollop of sour cream. This will dilute the sauce, add a tangy flavor, and cut through the heat. You can also add a squeeze of lime juice or make a half batch of the cheese sauce and fold it in for a really saucy mac and cheese with a little less of a kick.

More Mac and Cheese Recipes

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