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A close-up view of the spicy pepper jack cheese sauce being stirred in a skillet. This shows the texture of the easy homemade cheese sauce for pasta.

Creamy Pepper Jack Pasta (The Ultimate 30-Minute Recipe)

This Creamy Pepper Jack Pasta is a spicy, cheesy, and incredibly easy weeknight dinner ready in under 30 minutes. It features a foolproof, velvety cheese sauce that's loaded with bold flavor and perfectly coats every noodle.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces Penne or Rotini Pasta
  • 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 cup Whole Milk room temperature preferred
  • 1 cup Heavy Cream room temperature preferred
  • 8 ounces Pepper Jack Cheese shredded from a block
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh Parsley chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 Large Pot
  • 1 Large Skillet or Dutch Oven
  • 1 Whisk

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions for al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds). Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  3. Slowly pour in the milk and heavy cream, whisking constantly to ensure no lumps form. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring often, until the sauce thickens.
  4. Reduce heat to low. Add the shredded Pepper Jack cheese in small handfuls, stirring until each addition is completely melted before adding the next.
  5. Season the sauce with salt and pepper. Add the drained pasta to the skillet and stir to coat. If needed, thin the sauce with a splash of reserved pasta water. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley.

Notes

Tip 1: For the creamiest sauce, always shred your own cheese from a block. Pre-shredded cheeses have additives that prevent smooth melting.
Tip 2: Don't skip reserving the pasta water! It's the perfect tool to adjust the sauce consistency without thinning the flavor.
Tip 3: Feel free to add cooked chicken, sausage, or steamed broccoli to make this a complete one-pan meal.