Jalapeno Popper Mac 'n Cheese

Name: Jalapeno Popper Mac 'n Cheese
Total time: 100
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 (8 ounce) package elbow macaroni; ¼ cup butter; 1 small onion, diced; 5 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced (Optional); 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 2 cups 2% milk; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon seasoned salt; ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper; 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce, or more to taste; 1 (8 ounce) package light processed cheese food (such as Velveeta Light®), cubed; 2 ounces cream cheese, cubed; 1 pinch salt to taste; 3 slices bacon; ⅓ cup seasoned panko bread crumbs; 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese; 1 jalapeno pepper, sliced into thin rings (Optional)

Recipe by Christina from allrecipes.com

Dinner 2 Hr. 40 Mins.

Ingredients

8 servings

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1 (8 ounce) package elbow macaroni
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¼ cup butter
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1 small onion, diced
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5 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced (Optional)
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
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2 cups 2% milk
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½ teaspoon garlic powder
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½ teaspoon seasoned salt

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¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
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2 dashes Worcestershire sauce, or more to taste
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1 (8 ounce) package light processed cheese food (such as Velveeta Light®), cubed
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2 ounces cream cheese, cubed
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1 pinch salt to taste
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3 slices bacon
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⅓ cup seasoned panko bread crumbs
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2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
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1 jalapeno pepper, sliced into thin rings (Optional)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 1 1/2-quart baking dish.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and return to pot; set aside.
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and jalapenos; cook until just softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Mix in flour, coating vegetables well. Whisk in milk slowly until smooth. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly until thickened, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
Season sauce with garlic powder, seasoned salt, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir in processed cheese and cream cheese until melted and sauce is smooth, about 5 minutes. Season with salt.
Pour macaroni into cheese sauce and stir to coat completely. Pour into the prepared baking dish.
Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels. Cool briefly.
Crumble bacon and mix with panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over macaroni. Top with jalapeno slices.
Bake, uncovered, until browned and bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.