Bacon Jalapeño Mac & Cheese with a Crispy Panko Topping

Step 1

• Bring a medium pot of salted water toa boil (use a large pot for 4 servings).• Heat a large, dry pan over medium heat.Add bacon*; cook, turning occasionallyand adjusting heat if browning tooquickly, until crispy, 6-10 minutes.• Turn off heat; transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.• Carefully discard all but a thin layer ofbacon fat from pan (you’ll use this tocook the aromatics later).

Step 2

• While bacon cooks, wash and dryproduce.• Halve jalapeño crosswise, removingribs and seeds for less heat; thinlyslice one half into rounds and finelydice remaining. Trim and thinly slicescallions, separating whites fromgreens. Peel and mince garlic.

Step 3

• Once water is boiling, add cavatappito pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, untilal dente, 9-11 minutes.• Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water(2 cups for 4 servings), then drain.• While pasta cooks, place 1 TBSP butter(2 TBSP for in a small microwave-safe bowl; microwave until melted,30 seconds. Stir in panko. Season withsalt and pepper.

Step 4

• Heat pan with reserved bacon fatover medium-high heat. Add slicedjalapeño; season with salt. Cook,stirring occasionally, until just tender,2-3 minutes. Transfer to a secondsmall bowl and set aside.• Add scallion whites, diced jalapeño,and garlic to pan. Cook until slightlysoftened, 2-3 minutes. Season withsalt and pepper.

Step 5

• Add flour to pan with aromatics;whisk until thoroughly coated.• Whisk in cream sauce base, creamcheese, half the Southwest SpiceBlend (all for 4 servings), and 1⁄2 cupreserved pasta cooking water (1 cupfor 4); reduce heat to low. Simmer,whisking, until sauce is smooth andslightly thickened, 2-3 minutes.• Whisk in Mexican cheese blend andMonterey Jack until meltedand creamy.

Step 6

• Heat broiler to high.• Roughly chop bacon. Stir bacon anddrained cavatappi into pan withcheese sauce. (TIP: If your pan isnot large enough, carefully transfereverything into pot used to cookpasta.) If needed, stir in more reservedpasta cooking water a splash at a timeuntil cavatappi is coated in a creamysauce. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 7

• Transfer mac & cheese to an 8-by-8-inch baking dish (for 4 servings, usea 9-by-13-inch baking dish). Sprinklewith panko and sliced jalapeño.• Broil until panko is browned andcrispy, 2-3 minutes. (TIP: Watchcarefully to avoid burning.) Sprinklewith scallion greens.• Divide between plates or serve directlyfrom baking dish.Bacon is fully cooked when internal temperature reaches 145°.