Stovetop Pepper Jack mac and cheese is easy-to-make comfort food that can be on your table in 20 minutes! Made with tender elbow macaroni smothered in a spicy cheese sauce made with 2 kinds of cheese, and all done in one pot for a creamy, cheesy, weeknight dinner or side dish with a kick!
In a large pot, bring salted water to boil and cook the noodles until al dente.
1/2 pound uncooked elbow noodles
Drain noodles and set aside.
Using the same pot, melt the butter over medium high heat until bubbly. Whisk in the flour, one tablespoon at a time, making sure to fully cook each addition.
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
Cook the flour until it is no longer raw. The mixture (a roux) should be thick and pale yellow.
Add in the milk, while whisking. Continue cooking until the mixture thickens and is creamy.
1 1/2 cup milk, salt & pepper, pinch red pepper flakes
Season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Remove from heat and stir in the shredded cheeses. Stir until fully melted and incorporated.
1 1/2 cup pepper jack cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
Add the drained pasta to the cheese mixture and stir to fully coat.
Notes
Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. When reheating, a splash of milk may be needed to thin out the cheese.
Make it milder. You can swap the amounts of each cheese to use more mozzarella and less pepper jack if you’d like. Or you can use half and half of each. Alternatively, you can use a completely different kind of cheese altogether! Cheddar, Gouda, Gruyere, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Colby Jack, and Swiss are great melty cheeses that can be used with a mix of pepper jack cheese or in place of.
Make it hotter. A dash of cayenne pepper, more red pepper flakes, or even more Pepper Jack cheese can all be done to make it as spicy as you'd like. You can also add diced jalapenos to the mix.
Add protein.Shredded chicken, diced leftover ham, or crispy bacon bits can be added for extra protein and loads of flavor.
Veggies. Want to sneak in some vegetables? How about some broccoli, cauliflower, corn, green onions, or red bell peppers?
Extra seasoning. For extra flavor in your cheese sauce, try adding garlic powder, paprika, ground mustard, or even some dried herbs.