Spicy Mac and Cheese
If you love eating flavorful food, then make this spicy mac and cheese. This mac and cheese features crispy, baked-to-perfection, cheesy, and spicy macaroni. Let me tell you, when you try this recipe, there is no going back to bland and boring pasta. Your Thanksgiving side dish is sorted; make it to impress everyone.
What goes into spicy mac and cheese
Pasta
I like to use cavatappi pasta. Cavatappi is perfect for soaking up the cheesy sauce and the spicy flavors. Boil the pasta according to the package directions until al dente or 1 minute less than the mentioned time. After putting the pasta in water, start the timer; when the timer goes off, drain your pasta. Also, don’t forget to season the pasta water generously with salt.
Spices
To make the spicy mac and cheese, I used red chili powder (cayenne pepper), black pepper, smoked paprika, red chili flakes, garlic powder, and onion powder. This recipe is perfect for desi palates and for those who love eating spicy food. I have tried the recipe with cumin and coriander powder as well, as you can see in the first picture, but in my opinion the second blend of spices (picture to the right) works the best for this spicy recipe.
Cheese
I like to use a combination of freshly grated mozzarella and Colby Jack in equal parts and medium cheddar in half the quantity. If you add too much cheddar, then the mac and cheese will be too oily. So keep these proportions, as they work every time. It’s important to use freshly grated cheese, as it melts beautifully and gives you the creamy texture. If you don’t want to grate the cheese, then put it in the food processor and let it do its magic.
Step-by-Step Method to Make the Spicy Man and Cheese
To make the roux for spicy mac and cheese, I melted the butter, then added spices and cooked them for 30 seconds before adding the flour. Cook the flour for about 2 minutes, then I added the cream and milk. Cook this mixture until the back of the spoon was coated with the sauce. Slowly add 2/3 of the cheese and mix. Save the rest of it for later. Learn more about Béchamel sauce.
Once your cheese is melted, add boiled pasta. Mix it well, then transfer the mac n cheese to a baking tray. Top it with the remaining cheese. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes, then broil for 2-3 minutes to achieve the desired color.
How to store leftover spicy mac and cheese
Store any leftover mac and cheese in a sealed container for 2-3 days in a refrigerator. If you enjoy baking and spicy food, then try my 30-minute pasta with homemade sauce, chipotle chicken pasta, bolognese pasta, spicy baked chicken, and chicken bread with spicy filling
Spicy Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 lb (~453 g) cavatappi, or elbow macaroni
- 1 lb (~453 g) mozzarella
- 1 lb (~453 g) Colby Jack cheese
- ½ lb (~226 g) medium cheddar cheese
Spices
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp chili powder (cayenne pepper), or to taste
- ½ tsp red chili flakes
Ingredients for béchamel sauce
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1.5 cups (~354 ml) heavy cream
- 1.5 cups (~354 ml) whole milk
For Boiling pasta
- 1 tbsp salt
- 4 quarts (~3 l) water
Equipment
- 1 9*13 baking dish
Instructions
- Grate your cheeses and set them aside.
Boil Pasta
- Boil pasta according to the package directions. Add 1 tbsp of salt while boiling.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Make béchamel sauce
- In a pan, melt butter, then add spices. Bloom the spices for 30 seconds over low heat, then add all-purpose flour.
- Cook it for 1-2 minutes over medium heat. Lower the flame and then add whole milk. While whisking it
- Now add heavy cream and keep whisking until it thickens.
- Slowly add cheese and keep whisking until you have used 2/3 of the cheese.
Mix pasta
- Stir in the boiled pasta.
- Now add the pasta to a baking tray, then top it with the remaining cheese.
- Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes, then broil for 2-3 minutes until the desired color is achieved.