Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Baked Penne
This Cheesy Jalapeño Popper Baked Penne is creamy, flavourful and so delicious! Have it ready and on the table in under 1 hour.
Cheesy Jalapeño Popper Baked Penne. Just think about that for a second…yummmm…noodles, jalapeños and cheeeeeese. You don’t want to miss this recipe, it’s what’s for dinner!
Our family loves macaroni & cheese in any way, shape or form. So I’m always looking for new delicious ways to serve it up. And what’s more delicious than Cheesy Jalapeño Popper Baked Penne?!
Mmmm, look how creamy this Cheesy Jalapeño Popper Baked Penne is! My kids loved this dish…they were sold at creamy.
Did I mention creamy?! This is such a flavourful and oh-so-cheesy dinner that you can have on your table in under 1 hour!
jalapeño popper baked penne recipe tips
- Jalapeños: Use pickled jalapeño peppers, chopped finely. If you want to use fresh jalapeños, chop them finely, and to reduce the heat make sure to remove the seeds and inner ribs.
- Shredded Cheese: For this recipe I used Kraft Creamy Mexicana Shredded Cheese with a Touch of Philadelphia which has a touch of cream cheese in the shredded cheese. If you don’t have access to this, use regular shredded cheese and add about a 1/4 cup of regular cream cheese.
- Types of Cheese: My favourites for this recipe is Creamy Mexicana Shredded Cheese but you can also use cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack or mozzarella.
- Pasta: You can use penne pasta, but you can also use any of your favourite pasta.
- Toppings: Top with more pickled jalapeños, chopped fresh jalapeños, or candied jalapeños.
- Options: Feel free to add 1/2 cup cooked shredded chicken or a couple tablespoons of chopped cooked bacon to the dish before baking.
- Leftovers: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave.
Cheesy Jalapeño Popper Baked Penne
This Cheesy Jalapeño Popper Baked Penne is creamy, flavourful and so delicious! Have it ready and on the table in under 1 hour.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Oven
Ingredients
Sauce:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- salt to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped pickled jalapeño peppers
- 1 pkg of Kraft Creamy Mexicana Shredded Cheese with a Touch of Philadelphia (see tips)
Pasta:
- 3 cups penne pasta
Bread topping:
- 3 slices of bread (made into bread crumbs)
- 1/4 cup butter (melted)
- slices pickled jalapeño pepper for garnishing
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a heavy pot melt the butter over medium heat.
- Once the butter has melted, whisk in the flour until it is fully combined.
- Whisk in the whole milk, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens.
- Stir in the dry mustard and diced jalapeños.
- Add the shredded cheese, and stir constantly until the cheese has melted. Set aside.
- Cook the penne pasta until it is al dente. Then drain and add the noodles to a 9 x 13 casserole dish.
- Add the cheese mixture to the penne and mix well.
- In a small bowl combine the melted butter and bread crumbs, then sprinkle them evenly over the pasta. Top with a few pickled jalapeño pepper slices as a garnish.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the pasta is bubbling and the topping is golden brown.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Keywords: jalapeño popper pasta, jalapeño pasta recipe
Recipe adapted from Yumsugar
What readers are saying!
“Amazing. Best of Mac and cheese and jalapeno poppers mixed. Loved it. Added cream cheese cubes to the top after baking. Perfect. Thank you so much for this.” ~ Laura
I hope you enjoy this jalapeño popper pasta bake! Have a delicious day!
Disclosure: Although this post has been generously sponsored by Kraft Canada, the opinions and language are all my own, and in no way do they reflect Kraft Canada.
Mmm. Looks so good!
Yum! sounds like a great way to update pasta night! Going to have to give this new blend a try for my guy (he LOVES cheese!)
Oh wow, this looks amazing. I somehow have become obsessed with Jalapenos in the last 6 months. I have to try this!
This looks awesome! I’ve been looking forward to this recipe since I saw your picture earlier this month.
This does look fabulous and even better super easy to make. Took a peek at the Kraft website and it is very impressive too!
Love the looks of this, Jo-Anna! I’m a big mac and cheese fan, and jalapenos in it? Yes, please!
I really need to try a dish with jalapenos in it, I tend to avoid them because I’m nervous that it will be too spicy. Your Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Baked Penne looks soooo good, I want to try it!! Is it spicy?? I can’t get over how creamy and delicious it looks!!
I never thought of adding jalapeño kick to a pasta dish. Pretty sure I’m making this for dinner tonight! Its making my mouth water already. Delish!
Jo-Anna! OMG the photos of all that creamy sauce pouring out have me seriously drooling! This looks amazing!
Mmmmmm this looks so yummy. I love how easy it looks. I would love for you to share this at my Friday T.G.I.F. Linky Party. Have a great weekend!!
Hi Jo-Anna, I made this for dinner tonight and it was a big hit. My husband has already requested it for next week and we never cook the same thing that close together 🙂 I have tried quite a few of your recipes and I am never disappointed. Thank you so very much for sharing !!
This makes me so happy Esther!! Thank you for letting me know…happy cooking!! 🙂
Wow, wow, wow that looks delish! Thanks for sharing!
Thank Laurie! It really is a delicious dish!!
Amazing ..looks so yummy …. will try to do something at home as you did….:)
Would a crock pot version of this be possible?
Hi Carleigh! I’m not sure, as I’ve never made pasta in a crockpot before. I’d be worried the noodles would get really soggy sitting in a dish for too long.
Has anyone tried it with fresh jalapenos and store bought bread crumbs? thanks!
Hi Courtney! I haven’t but I bet it would be just as delicious! I would just use less jalapenos as the fresh ones tend to be a lot more spicy! And I would definitely use store bought bread crumbs – they would taste just as good I’m sure! Enjoy!
Amazing. Best of Mac and cheese and jalapeno poppers mixed. Loved it. Added cream cheese cubes to the top after baking. Perfect. Thank you so much for this.
Oh I’m so happy you liked this recipe! And what a great addition – I think I’ll add extra cream cheese too next time!
This sounds delicious!! I sometimes add a mostly-drained can of Ro-Tel to my standard mac & cheese similar to this, but not everyone is crazy about tomatoes in their macaroni. I’ll definitely have to try this next time!
Oh that sounds so good! I love tomatoes in my macaroni!
I think I’ll be making this for dinner tonight! But I may add some shredded chicken into the mix to make it a more complete meal instead of a side dish!
Can this be made the day before and then put in the oven the next day!
Hi! Technically it could, but it is best made and served the same day. I think if it sat overnight all of the creamy cheese sauce would get soaked up by the noodles.