Spicy Siracha Baked Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 Lb whole wheat elbow macaroni (can use regular elbow macaroni if you’d like)
• 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 Tablespoons All-Purpose flour
• 4 Cups whole milk
• 1/2 Teaspoon salt
• 1/2 Teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 medium jalapeño, seeded and minced
• 4-5 Tablespoons Sriracha hot sauce (3 if you want it milder)
• 1 Cup green onions, sliced
• 3 Cups of shredded sharp white cheddar cheese (I got a 12oz bag and it was the perfect amount). Extra is always encouraged though 🙂
• For the Bread Crumb Topping
• 1/2 Cup panko bread crumbs
• 1/2 Cup plain bread crumbs
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• For Garnish
• Sriracha hot sauce
• Sliced green onions

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta about 1-2 minutes less according to the package (the pasta will finish cooking in the oven). Drain the pasta and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
3. In a large pot melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Once the butter is melted, whisk in the flour and combine until it’s lightly bubbling and just starting to smell a little nutty.
4. Whisk in the milk, 1 cup at a time, and turn the heat up to medium. Let the milk come to a simmer so that it can thicken up a bit. (A great way to tell if it’s thick enough is if it coats the back of a wooden spoon and it doesn’t run down the spoon).
5. After the mixture has thickened, add the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, jalapeño, and sriracha. (Add more or less sriracha to your liking–remember you will also top off the dish with more sriracha!).
6. Remove from heat and mix in 3 cups of cheese, 1 cup at a time. Then stir in the green onions.
7. Put the pasta into a 9×13 in baking dish and then pour the cheese sauce over it. Incorporate everything together with a spoon.
8. Mix the panko and plain bread crumbs together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and then pour over the breadcrumbs. Mix well and then spread evenly across the top of the pasta and cheese.
9. Place baking dish in the oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbly and the bread crumbs start to turn golden.
10. Drizzle extra sriracha and sprinkle some green onions over each plate before serving.