By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 9, 2026
Serves 4
241 cal · 30 min
Simple Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese
Recipe GLPRf8e2bb53da027d
A quick and satisfying pasta dish made with creamy melted pepper jack cheese and tender spiral pasta. This 30-minute classic is perfect for lunch or dinner and serves 4 people with a comforting, slightly spicy kick.
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Ingredients
12 ounces spiral pasta or elbow macaroni
½ cup whole milk
8 ounces shredded pepper jack cheese
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spiral pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta in a colander and return it to the pot.
Pour the whole milk into the pot with the hot pasta and stir well. Add the shredded pepper jack cheese in handfuls, stirring constantly until the cheese is completely melted and the pasta is coated in a creamy sauce.
Season the mac and cheese with salt and black pepper to your taste. Stir to combine thoroughly.
Transfer to serving bowls and serve immediately while hot.
Comments
This recipe hits the basics well: pepper jack is stocked at every major Charlotte chain (Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Walmart, ALDI, Kroger), pasta and milk are staples, and at roughly $2 per serving it's genuinely affordable. The stated 30 minutes is honest—boiling water, cooking pasta, melting cheese into milk takes that time with no hidden prep. It's a one-pot weeknight dish that reheats reasonably in a microwave, though the cheese can tighten slightly on day two. The only mild drawback is that it's a bare-bones recipe with no vegetables or protein, so a Charlotte family eating it mid-week would likely need to add a side or stretch the main meal.
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