Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese

Name: Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese with Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 5 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 14 oz chicken breast; salt, to taste; garlic powder, to taste; onion powder, to taste; black pepper, to taste; paprika, to taste; 10 slices center-cut bacon; 300 g 2% cottage cheese; 80 g light cream cheese; 80 g 1% milk; 10 pickled jalapeño slices, diced; 2 tbsp pickled jalapeño juice; 25 g honey; 380 g elbow pasta; 1 fresh jalapeño, diced; 1/4 cup fresh chives, chopped, plus more for garnish

This Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese combines creamy cottage cheese sauce with tender chicken, crispy bacon, and jalapeños for a high-protein, meal-prep friendly take on the classic comfort dish.

🌍American 🏷️Jalapeño popper 🏷️Mac and cheese 🏷️Chicken 🏷️Bacon High-protein

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🏷️Meal-prep

-0:00

TikTok

Total

30 min

Servings

5

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$29–$48

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

-0:00

TikTok

Ingredients

14 oz chicken breast
salt, to taste
garlic powder, to taste
onion powder, to taste
black pepper, to taste
paprika, to taste
10 slices center-cut bacon
300 g 2% cottage cheese
80 g light cream cheese
80 g 1% milk
10 pickled jalapeño slices, diced
2 tbsp pickled jalapeño juice
25 g honey
380 g elbow pasta
1 fresh jalapeño, diced
1/4 cup fresh chives, chopped, plus more for garnish

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Instructions

1
Tenderize the chicken breasts and season generously with salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and paprika.
2
Air fry the seasoned chicken at 375°F for 15-20 minutes, or until cooked through.
3
While the chicken is cooking, chop the bacon and fry it in a large skillet over medium heat until golden brown and crispy.
4
Remove the cooked bacon from the skillet and set aside. Reserve some for garnish.
5
In a blender, combine the cottage cheese, light cream cheese, milk, diced pickled jalapeños, pickled jalapeño juice, honey, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
6
Blend the sauce ingredients until completely smooth and creamy.
7
Cook the elbow pasta according to package directions. Drain and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
8
Once the chicken is cooked, let it rest for a few minutes, then dice it into bite-sized pieces.
9
To the bowl with the pasta, add the diced chicken, diced fresh jalapeño, chopped chives, and most of the crispy bacon.
10
Pour the blended cheese sauce over the pasta mixture.
11
Stir everything together until well combined.
12
Portion into five meal prep containers. Top with the reserved crispy bacon and extra chopped chives before serving.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Cube the chicken evenly so it cooks at the same rate—avoid large pieces that stay undercooked in the center.
Render the bacon until crispy, then chop into bite-sized pieces; save 1 tablespoon of bacon fat to cook the chicken for extra flavor.
Blend the cottage cheese with milk until completely smooth before adding to the sauce to prevent lumps in the final dish.
Taste and season after combining all ingredients—the bacon and cream cheese add saltiness, so adjust salt and jalapeño heat at the end.

Substitutions

2% cottage cheese → Greek yogurt (same amount; slightly tangier)
Light cream cheese → full-fat cream cheese (richer; reduce quantity to 70g)
Center-cut bacon → turkey bacon (leaner; adds less fat but similar flavor)

Storage & make-ahead

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding 1–2 tablespoons milk per serving to restore creaminess.

Common Questions

Can I make this ahead for meal prep?

Yes. Prepare the dish, cool completely, store in airtight containers for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of milk to restore creaminess.

What can I substitute for cottage cheese?

Use Greek yogurt or ricotta in equal amounts. Both work but Greek yogurt adds tanginess; ricotta is slightly less thick.

How do I keep the mac and cheese creamy?

Don't overcook the pasta—cook to al dente. Blend the cottage cheese smooth before mixing to avoid lumps, and add milk gradually until you reach desired consistency.