Description
Pepper jack stovetop macaroni cheese delights bring zesty comfort straight to your dinner table with creamy, melted cheese and a spicy kick that makes weeknight meals exciting. Grab your skillet and prepare for a quick, satisfying dinner that comes together faster than ordering takeout.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 8 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese
- 2 cups milk
Seasoning Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
Supporting Ingredients:
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Boil 8 oz elbow macaroni in salted water for 8-10 minutes until perfectly al dente. Drain pasta and set aside.
- Melt ¼ cup butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat (375°F) until completely liquid and bubbling.
- Sprinkle ¼ cup flour, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper, and ¼ tsp paprika into melted butter. Whisk ingredients together for 1-2 minutes until they form a smooth paste.
- Pour 2 cups milk slowly into the butter mixture, whisking continuously to prevent lumps from forming.
- Simmer sauce at 190°F for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and coats the back of your wooden spoon.
- Remove sauce from heat and add 2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese. Stir vigorously until cheese melts completely and sauce becomes glossy.
- Fold cooked macaroni into cheese sauce, ensuring every pasta piece gets evenly coated with the spicy, creamy mixture.
- Transfer to serving dishes and enjoy your hot, cheesy creation immediately.
Notes
- Grate the cheese fresh for the smoothest, most even melting texture in your sauce.
- For extra creaminess, let the roux cook for 1-2 minutes before adding milk to develop a deeper flavor.
- Select a good quality pepper jack that melts well, as it determines the sauce’s overall taste and richness.
- If avoiding spicy foods, substitute pepper jack with mild cheddar for a more kid-friendly version.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Boiled
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 592 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 730 mg
- Fat: 37 g
- Saturated Fat: 23 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg