Clean Eating Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese

4.50 from 4 votes

Stay on your healthy-eating plan and keep enjoying your favorite foods with this amazingly delicious Mac and Cheese dish.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Pasta, Vegetarian

Servings: people

Calories: 351kcal

3 cups whole-grain macaroni noodles dry, cooked according to the package directions
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion small, diced
2 jalapeño peppers seeded and diced
1 garlic clove minced
1 teaspoon mustard powder or 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
2 tablespoons flour I used white whole-wheat
2 cups milk low-fat
2 cups colby jack cheese low-fat
4 ounces cream cheese low-fat
1/2 cup whole-wheat bread crumbs
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and jalapeños and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and continue cooking 1 more minute. Stir in the mustard powder and flour and season with salt and pepper. Stir for 1 minute.
Add the milk and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Boil for 1 minute and turn off heat. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the Colby jack and all of the cream cheese. Add the cooked pasta and stir until well coated. Transfer to a casserole dish.
Top with breadcrumbs and remaining cheese and bake for 30-35 minutes until top is browned and cheese is bubbly. Allow to stand for 5 minutes before serving.

SmartPoints (Freestyle): 11