Chef Cayt has taken your fundamental mac n cheese and dressed it up with inexperienced chiles and pepper jack cheese. We love this elevated consolation meals for its excellent stability of creamy, tacky goodness and smoky, peppery warmth. Made in solely 20 minutes, this straightforward meal is ideal for busy weeknight dinners!
For extra scrumptious inexperienced chile recipes, attempt our Slow Cooker Green Chile Pork Stew.
Why Our Recipe
- Prepared in solely 20 minutes and made in a single pot for simple cleanup.
- Make it a complete meal by including leftover pulled pork or ham.
- Inexperienced chiles and Pepper Jack cheese add simply the correct quantity of spice and smoky warmth.

When you do that selfmade mac n cheese, you received’t return to boxed! Significantly, this recipe is so easy and straightforward, and it’s made in solely 20 minutes. This creamy cheese sauce is made in the identical pot that the noodles cook dinner in, utilizing the pasta water as the bottom. This straightforward hack not solely retains cleanup to a minimal, however the starches from the pasta water give the sauce the right velvety consistency.
Ingredient Notes


- Elbow Macaroni: Any quick pasta like fusilli, penne, or shells work effectively however elbow is a mac n cheese traditional!
- Diced Inexperienced Chiles: If you’d like a spicier kick, you may go for scorching inexperienced chiles
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Cheddar offers an ideal base taste to this mac. Freshly shredded melts higher than pre-shredded cheese, which incorporates components to forestall clumping.
- Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese: The peppers on this cheese add simply the correct quantity of warmth paired with the inexperienced chiles. Substitute with Monterey Jack for much less warmth.
- Heavy Cream: You may substitute with half-and-half, however the sauce received’t be as thick and creamy.
- Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice means that you can greatest management the flavour. It’s an ideal chef tip.
- Floor Mustard: Simply discovered within the spice part of the grocery retailer. For those who don’t have floor mustard, you should utilize Dijon mustard as a substitute.
Add a Protein
This smoky mac n cheese pairs completely with leftover pulled pork. It’s also possible to use leftover or store-bought ham, and even bacon.
For those who’re not a fan of pork, shredded hen or beef are nice choices as effectively. Serve on the facet or combine it in to beef this dish up.
The Proper Pot
As a result of this recipe makes use of one pot to cook dinner the noodles and make the sauce, we use a 6 quart pot with an 8 inch diameter, which boils the liquid simply lengthy sufficient to cook dinner the noodles leaving you with sufficient water to make the cheese sauce.
Use whichever massive pot you will have readily available, however remember the fact that with a tall and slim inventory pot, there can be much less evaporation as a consequence of much less floor space, which can go away your sauce a bit of extra runny. However, if you happen to use a large braising pan, the water will evaporate too shortly, leaving not sufficient pasta water to make the cheese sauce.
Be sure that when the noodles are carried out cooking, the liquid simply barely under the noodles. If this isn’t the case and an excessive amount of liquid has evaporated, add a couple of 1/2 cup extra of hen broth earlier than making your sauce.


Modify the Warmth
Inexperienced chiles are thought-about to be reasonably scorching—spicier than inexperienced bell peppers, however not as spicy as jalapeños.
For much less warmth: You may go for delicate canned inexperienced chiles and use Monterey Jack as a substitute of Pepper Jack cheese.
For extra warmth: Swap out the delicate inexperienced chiles for decent inexperienced chiles or canned diced jalapeños. Add a touch of scorching sauce of a contact of cayenne pepper for additional warmth.
Storage and Reheating Directions
Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container for 4-5 days.
For greatest outcomes, reheat leftovers in a saucepan on low warmth. Add a splash of milk to maintain it from drying out, and stir sometimes to make sure that they warmth by evenly.
If utilizing a microwave, cut back energy to 50% if attainable and reheat in 30 second increments till warmed by.
Extra mac n cheese recipes…
Trending Merchandise

Lwenki Key Holder for Wall, Decorative Key and Mail Holder with Shelf Has Large Hooks for Bags, Coats, Umbrella â Paulownia Wood Key Hanger with Mounting Hardware (9.8âW x 6.7âH x 4.2âD)

Aroma Housewares 4-Cups (Cooked) / 1Qt. Rice & Grain Cooker (ARC-302NGP), Pink

Cordless Immersion Blender: 4-in-1 Rechargeable Electric Hand Blender, 21-Speeds & 3-Angle Adjustable with 700ml Chopper, 700ml Beaker, Egg Whisk and Beater for Smoothies, Soup, Baby Food (Black)

OLANLY Bathroom Rugs Mat 30×20, Extra Soft and Absorbent Microfiber Bath Rugs, Non-Slip Plush Shaggy Bath Carpet, Machine Wash Dry, Bath Mat for Bathroom Floor, Tub and Shower, Grey

MIULEE Pack of 2 Corduroy Decorative Throw Pillow Covers 18×18 Inch Soft Boho Striped Pillow Covers Modern Farmhouse Christmas Home Decor for Sofa Living Room Couch Bed Cream White

9 Pcs Universal Vacuum Attachments & Brushes for Shop Vac Accessories with 2 1/2″ to 1 1/4″ & 1 7/8″ to 1″ Adapter for Shop Vac, 1 1/4″ Brush Attachment for Shop Vac, Flexible Crevice Tool

Auledio Iron 2-Tier Countertop Fruit Vegetables Basket Bowl Storage With Banana Hanger, Black, 64 ounces

Vacuum Cleaner Attachments Versatile Extension Hose Brush Nozzle Crevice Instruments for 1 1/4 inch Store Vacuum Automobile Detailing Equipment

Homedics Tabletop Water Fountain, Home Décor Soothing Sound Machine – Automatic Pump, Deep Basin & Natural River Rocks. Indoor Zen Relaxation for Office, Living Room, or Bedroom, 8.25â Tall
