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Oven Baked Spicy Macaroni and Cheese

This oven baked spicy macaroni and cheese is the ultimate comfort food.  It has just the right amount of spiciness thanks to chipotles in adobo sauce.  It’s easy to make too!

On my kid’s birthdays, I let them pick what they want for dinner, this spicy macaroni and cheese recipe is something all four of them ask for year after year.  For the past five-plus years, my son has picked out this spicy mac and cheese and my homemade lasagna, for his birthday dinner. Lol pasta on pasta!

Oven Baked Spicy Macaroni and Cheese

How to Make Oven Baked Spicy Macaroni and Cheese

*** Please note all the photos below are for a double batch of Spicy Macaroni and Cheese.  This recipe is for one batch which will fill a 9″ x 13″ casserole dish.

If you like spicy stuff, add three tablespoons of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, sometimes when I’m feeling extra spicy, I’ll go crazy and add in four tablespoons of chipotles! 😀

Here’s what you will need to make this recipe:

  • 1 – 16 oz box of elbow macaroni or my favorite penne
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup minced onion
  • 4 cloves mince garlic
  • 1-3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce – finely minced
  • 6 tablespoons flour
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup Monterey jack cheese
  • 1 drained can of corn (optional but so good in the mac and cheese)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Put a pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil.  This is for the pasta.  Cook the pasta according to package directions.  While pasta water comes to a boil, start making the cheese sauce.

In a large pot (I used a big soup pot) melt the butter over medium heat and add in the onion.  When the onion is almost cooked stir in the garlic and chipotle peppers.  Cook two minutes.

Spicy Mac and Cheese

Whisk in the flour, cook for two minutes whisking constantly.Mac and Cheese Casserole

Whisk in the milk, a little at a time.  When the mixture starts to thicken, whisk in more of the milk, repeat until all the milk is whisked in.

Macaroni and Cheese from Scratch

Now it’s time to add in the cheese.  Turn down the heat a little and stir until the cheese is melted and incorporated into the sauce.

Best Macaroni and Cheese

The cheese sauce for mac n cheese should look something like this at this point.  The cheese sauce tastes excellent with tortilla chips.  Taste the cheese sauce for salt and pepper.  I rarely have to add any.

Cheese Sauce for Mac n Cheese

Stir in the cooked drained pasta and the drained can of corn into the cheese sauce.

Oven Baked Mac and Cheese

If you are starving or in a hurry, you could eat the mac n cheese right now, if you have time cook it in the oven.

Transfer the spicy macaroni and cheese to a casserole dish sprayed with non-stick spray.  In the picture below, I used two different types of pasta, penne, and spiral, because that’s all I had on hand.  It works and still tastes fantastic!

Baked Mac n Cheese Recipe

Cover the casserole dish tightly with foil.  This will prevent the spicy mac & cheese from drying out.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, uncover and bake another 15 minutes or until the macaroni and cheese are browned to your liking.

When I remove the spicy macaroni and cheese from the oven, I like to blot any obvious fat from the melted cheese with a paper towel.  Let the macaroni sit for 10 minutes or so before serving.

Best Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Oven Baked Spicy Macaron and Cheese Recipe

Oven Baked Spicy Macaroni and Cheese

Shelly
The best spicy macaroni and cheese recipe.
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 1 hr 15 mins
Total Time 1 hr 20 mins
Course Pasta
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 1 - 16 oz box of elbow macaroni or my favorite penne
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup minced onion
  • 4 cloves mince garlic
  • 1-3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce - finely minced
  • 6 tablespoons flour
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup Monterey jack cheese
  • 1 drained can corn optional but so good in the mac and cheese

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven 350 degrees.
  • Put a pot of water on for the pasta. Cook pasta according to package directions. While water is coming to a boil begin making the cheese sauce.
  • Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat, add in minced onion and cook until onion is almost done.
  • Stir in minced garlic and minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Cook two minutes stirring constantly.
  • Whisk in six tablespoons of flour. Cook two minutes whisking constantly.
  • Whisk in milk a little at a time. When mixture starts to thicken, add in more milk, repeat until all the milk is added in.
  • Turn down the heat a little and whisk in cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses. Stir to combine as cheese melts.
  • Taste the cheese sauce for salt and black pepper.
  • Turn off heat, stir in cooked drained pasta, and a drained can of corn (optional).
  • Transfer spicy macaroni and cheese into a 9" x 13" pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Tightly cover macaroni and cheese with foil.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
  • Remove cover and bake an additional 15 minutes or until mac n cheese is browned to your liking.

Disclosure:  This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

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Recipe Rating




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Sunday 5th of March 2023

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Friday 24th of February 2023

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Andrea

Sunday 13th of March 2016

I love pasta! I don't really cook though so I was excited when you said "simple" lol. I don't know if I can get Chipotle peppers here but I'll have a look coz I like spicy 😀 Visiting you from the a to z challenge 💚

ShellyB

Sunday 13th of March 2016

Thanks for commenting Andrea!

I've made this recipe before using minced fresh jalapenos in place of the Chipotle peppers and it turned out great. I'm a big fan of making do with what I already have. :D

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