• Recipes Index
  • About
  • Contact

Real Life Dinner

Recipes your real life family will love!

  • Dinners
  • Desserts
  • Seasonal
  • Slow Cooker / Instant Pot
  • Quick and Easy
  • $10 Dinners
  • Maria’s Favs
Home
  • Recipes Index
    • Dinners
    • Desserts
    • Seasonal
    • Slow Cooker / Instant Pot
    • Quick and Easy
    • $10 Dinners
    • Maria’s Favs
  • About
  • Contact

November 14, 2022 2 Comments

Loaded Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese

Loaded Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese in a glass 9x13 baking dish partially sitting on a flannel patterned kitchen towel.

 Bacon, spicy Pepper Jack cheese, cream cheese, and garlic all come together for a mac and cheese that will knock your socks off! This Loaded Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese is perfect for a night at home watching football, or fancy enough to claim a side dish spot on your Thanksgiving Dinner Menu.

I’ve got a handful of kids who love a little spice in their food, so this comforting version of mac and cheese went over really well at our house. For reference on the spice level, I would say it is fairly mild, similar to adding a can of Rotel to your chili. So if you want more kick than that, I suggest you also chop up a jalapeño and sauté it with the garlic.

A partial photo of Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese in a glass 9x13 baking dish with a metal spoon inserted into a corner starting to scoop out a serving with a flannel patterned dish towel on the left.The amount of bacon you want to use is up to your own discretion as well. Another option would be using bacon grease in place of the butter. You could replace the full 1/2 cup or just a tablespoon or two. Using the bacon grease will definitely increase the bacon flavor in the dish. 

You can see in the pictures that I added some sliced green onions to the top. (Green onions are not pictured in the ingredients photo.) The green onions were an afterthought and something I decided to throw on to help the pictures look better. But honestly, I think they add a nice flavor, and I highly recommend adding them. I’m excited for you to give this yummy mac and cheese a try! It’s creamy, cheesy, and so full of flavor! YUM!

Loaded Mac and Cheese in a glass 9x13 baking dish with a spoon inserted diagonally into a corner with a white and blue flannel patterned dish towel on the left.More Kid-Friendly Recipes

  • Easy Pizza Casserole
  • Sticky Teriyaki Bake Chicken Thighs
  • Mini Meatloaf Recipe
  • Amazing Spaghetti Sauce
  • Ketchup Sloppy Joes
  • Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets

step-by-step pictures on how to make loaded pepper jack mac and cheese

16-photo picture collage of step-by-step photos on how to make Loaded Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese.A 9x13 glass baking dish of pepper jack mac and cheese with a spoon held above a corner with mac and cheese on it. On the left of the glass dish is a striped patterned tea towel. Frequently Asked Questions & Tips about how to make Loaded Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese

do you recommend using pre-cooked bacon crumbles instead of making your own?

If you have pre-cooked bacon crumbles on hand, they’re a good substitute for the bacon called for in this recipe.

can I use a different type of pasta for this recipe?

Yes. I recommend using small shells, rotini, penne, and even wagon wheel pasta (rotelle).

what type of cheese can I use in place of the pepper jack? 

If you don’t like Pepper Jack cheese, you can use cheddar, Colby Jack, Sharp Cheddar, or even a combination of cheddar and Colby Jack cheese.

A partial picture of Loaded Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese in a glass 9x13 dish.Do I need to use whole milk in this recipe or will low-fat milk work?

You can use 2%, 1%, or non-fat milk in place of whole milk in this recipe. Using whole milk will produce a richer flavor.

Tips:
  • Use part or all bacon grease in place of the butter to give a stronger bacon flavor to the mac and cheese.
  • Make sure to spray the 9×13 dish with cooking spray so the macaroni doesn’t stick to the bottom of the dish.
  • Top the casserole with a sprinkle of diced green onions to add another layer of flavor.

Two-photo Pinterest picture with the text of the title in the middle.CHEF’S TOOLS:

  • Pasta Pot
  • Colander
  • Frying Pan
  • Garlic Press
  • Measuring Cups
  • Cheese Grater

Delicious Pasta Dinners

A large yellow cloth napkin wrapped around the left and top side of a blue plate with a serving of baked chicken pasta and a couple of slices of French bread. A fork is sitting on the napkin on the left side of the plate.Baked Chicken Feta Tomato PastaA white 9x13 oval baking dish filled with manicotti topped with red marinara sauce down the middle with mozzarella cheese and parsley on top sitting on a hot pad.Amazing Manicotti RecipeBowl with Angel Hair Pasta topped with toasted garlic and grate parmesan cheese. Lemon and block of Parmesan in the back groundAngel Hair Pasta with Garlic and Parmesan

Loaded Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese
 
Print
Prep time
30 mins
Cook time
25 mins
Total time
55 mins
 
Loaded mac and cheese spiced with Pepper Jack cheese takes this comfort food up a notch.
Author: Maria
Recipe type: Pasta/Comfort Food/Dinner
Serves: 8-10
Ingredients
  • 1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni, cooked according to package directions and drained.
  • 8-16 ounces bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • ½ cup butter (Can use part or all bacon grease in place of the butter.)
  • 3 large cloves of garlic, crushed
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups milk
  • ½ cup heavy cream or half and half
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
  • pinch of ground mustard or nutmeg if desired
  • 3 cups shredded Pepper Jack cheese, divided
  • green onions for garnish, optional
Instructions
  1. Cook the elbow macaroni and drain it. Cook the bacon. Set both aside.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  3. In a deep skillet, add ½ cup butter and crushed garlic. (You can use part bacon grease in place of some of the butter if desired.)
  4. Once butter is melted and garlic has sautéed and is fragrant, add the flour and stir to create a roux. Stir roux for 1 minute.
  5. Next, add the milk and heavy cream and stir vigorously while adding to avoid lumps.
  6. Next, stir in the cream cheese, salt, pepper, and pinch of ground mustard or nutmeg (optional).
  7. When the cream cheese has completely melted, remove the pan from heat and add 2 cups of shredded Pepper Jack cheese and the bacon pieces. (Reserve a small amount of bacon to sprinkle on top of the casserole.) Stir until cheese is melted.
  8. Next, add the cheese mixture to the cooked elbow macaroni. Stir until combined and pour into a greased 9x13 baking dish.
  9. Top with remaining shredded Pepper Jack cheese, bacon pieces, and sliced green onion if desired.
  10. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until heated through and the cheese on top is browning.
3.5.3251

Side Dishes for the Holidays

The corner of a 9x13 glass pan of green bean casserole. A black serving spoon is sticking out of the casserole in the corner.Classic Green Bean CasseroleA partial picture of a scalloped edge, white Polish pottery with a blue line below the top edge and blue dots throughout; filled with Yukon mashed potatoes sprinkled with parsley and a small well of buttery on the top in the middle.Buttermilk Mashed Potatoesa blue plate with a creamy, cheesy vegetable mixture on it. it is colorful and there is a fork taking a bite out.Company Cauliflower

Pinterest picture with the text of the title of the recipe at the top.

Bacon, Casseroles, Cooking Method, Cream Cheese, Dinners, Heavy Cream, Holiday, Ingredients, Main Categories, Meats, More, Pasta, Pork, Recipes, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving
Bacon and Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese, Bacon Mac and Cheese, Bacon Mac and Cheese recipe, Loaded Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese, Mac and Cheese, Mac and Cheese recipe, Mac and Cheese recipes, Mac and Cheese with bacon, Macaroni and Cheese recipe, Macaroni and Cheese recipes, Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese, Pepper Jack Macaroni and Cheese, Pepper Jack Macaroni and Cheese recipe, Spicy Mac and Cheese
2 Comments

Like it? Share it!

Yum

Subscribe & never miss another recipe!

Sign up above and receive delicious family-friendly recipes directly in your email inbox!

2 Comments

  1. Ciara

    February 20, 2023 at 5:56 pm

    This was amazing! My roommate said it was like crack with how addicting it was. Would definitely (and have) make it again. I may or may not have had it for a full week.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      February 24, 2023 at 12:09 pm

      I love hearing this Ciara! I love that you cook and share with your roommate. I used to like doing that too!

      reply to this comment

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this recipe:  

Welcome friends!

Hi, I'm Maria. A mom of five and a total foodie. My superpower is taking ordinary recipes and making them DELICIOUS. Your family will LOVE these meals! Come cook with me, I promise it will be amazing! Get started here or search my archives below.


When you start your Amazon shopping here, I receive a small percentage of the sale. Thank you for supporting Real Life Dinner.

Housekeeping

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Meet Maria

Hi, I'm a professional recipe developer, with a degree in teaching and a minor in nutrition. I love helping busy families, like mine, "eat good" despite their crazy schedules...join the fun! Start here

TEST

SIGN UP FOR MY FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER AND NEVER MISS ANOTHER DELICIOUS FAMILY-FRIENDLY RECIPE

The Best of the Season

Classic-Broccoli-Salad-RecipeFresh-Strawberry-Jam-Recipe-made-with-sure-jell-less-sugar-recipe---Mediterranean-cous-cous-salad-recipe-with-chickenAmazing Strawberry Cheesecake Pastry Bites. Only four ingredients and Soooo Delicious! side bar-Old-bay-potato-salad

Recent Posts

  • Broccoli Slaw Salad
  • Easy No-Egg Banana Bread
  • Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil
  • How to Make Easy Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent
  • Chocolate Zucchini Bread
  • Stuffed Zucchini Soup
  • Oven Baked Dutch Oven Potatoes
  • Simple yet “Fancy” Christmas Eve Dinner Ideas for Busy Families

Copyright © 2025 Real Life Dinner  •  All Rights Reserved  •  Privacy Policy  •  Site Design by Emily White Designs