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.

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)

Description

This Spicy Mac and Cheese is a spicy version of a beloved classic that takes this cheesy pasta to the next level. 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!

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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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
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.
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.
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 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.
Add in cooked macaroni and stir together to fully coat with the cheese sauce.
Transfer the macaroni into a large oven-proof skillet or casserole dish. Top with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and the edges become crispy. Let it cool for 5 minutes.
Serve immediately. Add more hot sauce if desired.

Notes

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!

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Pasta
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American