Jalapeno Popper Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese

mozzarella + jalapenos

and

buffalo sauce + chicken + blue cheese

with

bacon and four more types of cheese

=

Amazeballs. The end.

Y'all, I'm posting this on New Years Eve because I want you to enjoy this before you start with your "lose weight - eat better" resolution tomorrow. It's obscenely bad for you... but it's a delicious treat. And honestly, it's so decadent that you won't eat your weight in it. Well, at least we couldn't.

It is, however, one of the most amazing mac and cheeses I've put in my mouth. And I love me some mac and cheese. The ingredient list looks long but don't be overwhelmed - it's easy to toss together and you probably have most of it already in your pantry.

{Plus it's totally worth the effort}

Jalapeno Popper Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese
4 slices of bacon
1/2 large onion, diced {about 1 1/4 cups}
2 jalapenos, sliced {ribs and seeds removed}
1 pound elbow macaroni

for the sauce-
4 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 cups milk {whole or 2%}
1/4 cup heavy cream
salt & pepper, to taste
1 pinch nutmeg
2 ounces cream cheese
1 tablespoon hot sauce {such as Frank’s Red Hot}
2 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated provolone
1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles
1 cup precooked and shredded chicken {optional}

for the topping-
1 cup corn flakes, crushed, or panko {optional}
1/3 cup blue cheese crumbles

In a large skillet, cook bacon until crispy. Remove from pan, drain on paper towels and crumble. Pour off excess bacon drippings, keeping 2 tablespoons in the pan. Place skillet back on heat and saute onion and jalapenos until soft, about 6 minutes over medium heat. Set aside.

Bring large pot of water to boil. Salt water generously and cook pasta 2 minutes short of package directions. You want the macaroni to be very al dente, but not still crunchy. Drain and set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In the same pot, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook 1-2 minutes. Whisk in milk, cream, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Increase heat to medium high and continue mixing until sauce thickens. Stir in cream cheese and hot sauce until melted smoothly into the sauce. Stir in cheeses. Pour cooked pasta, sauteed onions, and jalapenos into the sauce. Stir to coat. Stir in chicken.

Pour into a buttered baking dish {around 9×13 size} and spread out evenly. Top with blue cheese, corn flakes or panko, if desired, and crumbled bacon. Bake 20-30 minutes until top of macaroni has browned.

Eat.

Source: Lauren's Latest