Spicy Southwest Mac and Cheese

This spicy southwest mac and cheese is loaded with flavor and fresh veggies. A Tex Mex pasta dish with whole food ingredients.

recipe originally published March 5, 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS - Jump to any section:

1. 1. Why you will love this Tex Mex pasta
   2. How to make this pasta spicy or mild
   3. Shortcuts to the ingredient list
   4. How long does this pasta last?
   5. Reheating methods
   6. Jump to recipe: Spicy Southwest Mac and Cheese

Why you'll love this recipe

When you are craving comfort food and also want fresh veggies? Make this spicy southwest mac and cheese! It has all the crunchy crisp veggies, beans for protein, southwest flavors from spices, and a tangy vegan cheese sauce.

The Tex Mex flavors in this pasta pair well with the vegetables we add: three kinds of peppers, fresh summer corn, and creamy cool avocado. The leftovers are one of those lunches you look forward to...

How to make southwest mac and cheese

This Tex Mex pasta dish is as easy as boiling pasta, quickly blending up a cheese sauce, and prepping some veggies. Those last two parts are done in the time it takes to boil pasta.

I sometimes make this and just add whatever veggies I have. I almost always have bell peppers and jalapeño peppers, and during the summer I always have fresh corn. Tex Mex dishes often use black beans, but I love a pinto or even a cannellini bean in this dish.

The way I serve this changes, and I don't even know why. Sometimes I stir the cheese sauce into the pasta and veggies, and other times I pour the cheese sauce and southwest veggie bean mixture on top of the pasta after it is plated.

The flavors are the same, and you can make this as spicy or mild as you want. If you like spicy, just wash the jalapeño peppers and slice them up. If you like the flavor of jalapeños but not the potential spice, remove the seeds as you are trimming the stem and slicing.

Shortcuts to make this pasta

There are several short cuts to make this easy pasta recipe even faster! 

• Canned or frozen corn is just as good as fresh
• Taco seasoning can take the place of the individual spices
• Use Rotel instead of the bell peppers and green chiles

How long does this recipe last?

My rule for maximum flavor and freshness is to enjoy this Tex Mex pasta within three days.

Refrigerate any leftovers. Wait until it is cooled completely, and refrigerate in a glass container with a tightly fitting lid. 

Reheating methods

• Stovetop: Reheat on the stovetop in a skillet over medium heat.

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Yield: 6 servings

Southwest Macaroni and Cheese

Print

This spicy southwest mac and cheese is loaded with flavor and fresh veggies. A Tex Mex pasta dish with whole food ingredients that is quick and easy.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 14 ounces gluten free pasta (macaroni / penne style)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil (see notes for oil free method)
• 1 sweet or yellow onion, peeled and diced
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 2 fresh jalapeno peppers, trimmed, cored and sliced
• 1 orange or red bell pepper, trimmed, cored and diced
• 1 (4 ounce) can diced Hatch green chiles
• 1 (15.5 ounce) can pinto beans, drained
• kernels cut from 2 fresh ears of corn or 1 (15 ounce) can / frozen
• 1 ½ cups Vegan Cheese Sauce

southwest spice blend

• 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ¾ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• ¼ teaspoon pinch sea salt

garnish

• cherry tomatoes
• avocado
• fresh jalapeno slices

Instructions

• Cook pasta according to directions.

Prepare the remaining ingredients

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until onion is soft and translucent.
2. Add the jalapeno and bell peppers and green chiles, stir to combine and sauté long enough to soften the peppers to your liking.
3. Add the pinto beans, corn, and the southwest spice blend to the onion pepper mixture. Continue cooking until warmed through.

Serving options

• Add the cheese sauce and pasta to the skillet and combine. Garnish with green onion and serve, OR
• Divide the pasta into individual portion bowls and and pour the cheese sauce over the top of the pasta. Add the southwest bean and veggie mixture to the pasta. Garnish with green onions.

Notes

oil free recipe option

Use vegetable broth in place of the olive oil for sautéing.

Spicy or mild - you choose!

You can make this pasta as spicy or mild as you want.

• If you like spicy, just wash the jalapeño peppers and slice them up.
• If you like the flavor of jalapeños but not the potential spice, remove the seeds as you are trimming the stem and slicing.

Shortcuts to make this pasta

There are several short cuts to make this easy pasta recipe even faster! 

• Canned or frozen corn is just as good as fresh
• Taco seasoning can take the place of the individual spices
• Use Rotel instead of the bell peppers and green chiles

How long does this recipe last?

My rule for maximum flavor and freshness is to enjoy this Tex Mex pasta within three days.

Refrigerate leftovers. Wait until completely cool and refrigerate in a glass container with a tightly fitting lid. 

Reheating methods

• Stovetop: Reheat on the stovetop in a skillet over medium heat.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Vitamix Low-Profile
• 
  Pasta Caserecce GF
• 
  Hatch Diced Chiles
• 
  Organic Pinto Beans
• 
  Organic Smoked Paprika
• 
  ROTEL Fire Roasted Tomatoes and Chilies

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 188Total Fat: 9gSodium: 215mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 8g

nutrition calculations results vary by calculator, are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to replace medical advice or treatment.

spabettie / Kristina Sloggett is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.