My older brother makes this spicy comfort food whenever he visits and you only need 4 ingredients

This oven baked 4-ingredients pepperjack mac and cheese is the dish my older brother brings every time he visits, especially when the weather turns chilly or someone needs a little extra comfort. It’s creamy, spicy, and wonderfully simple—no roux, no long list of ingredients, just pantry basics and a block of pepper jack cheese. Everything bakes together in one glass casserole dish until the top is bubbly and golden brown, with little green pepper flecks peeking through the macaroni. It’s the kind of recipe you pull out on busy weeknights or for family get-togethers when you want something cozy without a lot of fuss.

Serve this pepperjack mac and cheese straight from the glass casserole dish while it’s still hot and bubbly. It pairs really nicely with a crisp green salad or simple steamed broccoli to balance the richness. For a heartier meal, add grilled or baked chicken on the side, or pile it next to sloppy joes or meatloaf for a classic Midwestern-style plate. A side of garlic bread or warm dinner rolls is great for scooping up any extra cheesy sauce from the corners of the pan.

Servings: 6

12 oz dry elbow macaroni

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch glass casserole dish so the macaroni doesn’t stick.

Spread the dry elbow macaroni evenly in the bottom of the glass casserole dish. No need to boil it first—this bakes right in the milk.

Sprinkle the kosher salt over the dry macaroni and gently toss with your hands or a spoon so the salt is fairly evenly distributed.

Reserve about 1 cup of the shredded pepper jack cheese for the top. Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly over the macaroni, making sure it gets down between the noodles so every bite is cheesy.

Slowly pour the whole milk over the macaroni and cheese in the dish. Gently shake the casserole dish or nudge the noodles with a spoon so the milk settles down around the pasta. The macaroni should be mostly submerged in milk.

Sprinkle the reserved 1 cup of shredded pepper jack cheese evenly over the top. This will melt into a bubbly, golden brown crust with those little green pepper flecks showing.

Cover the glass casserole dish tightly with foil and place it on the middle rack of the oven. Bake covered for 30 minutes, until the milk is hot and the pasta is starting to soften.

Carefully remove the foil (watch for steam) and give the macaroni a gentle stir, scraping along the bottom to make sure nothing is sticking and to help the cheese and milk come together into a sauce.

Return the dish to the oven, uncovered, and bake for another 20–25 minutes, stirring once more halfway through if the edges look dry. The mac and cheese is done when the pasta is tender, the sauce looks thick and creamy, and the top is bubbly.

For a deeper golden brown top, switch the oven to broil for 2–3 minutes at the very end. Watch closely so the cheese doesn’t burn—pull it out when the top is spotted with deep golden patches.

Let the pepperjack mac and cheese rest on the counter for about 10 minutes before serving. This helps the sauce thicken slightly so it’s creamy but not runny. Scoop it straight from the glass casserole dish and enjoy while it’s warm and comforting.

For milder eaters, use half pepper jack and half a gentler cheese like mild cheddar or Monterey Jack while still keeping the total cheese amount the same; this keeps the spirit of the recipe but softens the heat. If your pepper jack doesn’t have visible green pepper or jalapeño flecks, you can stir in a small spoonful of canned diced green chiles (drained well) along with the cheese to get that same look and a gentle kick. To make it extra creamy, replace 1 cup of the milk with half-and-half or heavy cream. If you like a little crunch, sprinkle a handful of crushed crackers or plain cornflakes over the top along with the reserved cheese before the final baking time. For kids who are suspicious of “spicy,” bake the dish as written and keep a small bowl of sour cream at the table—they can stir a spoonful into their serving to cool the heat. Leftovers reheat well: add a splash of milk, cover, and warm in the oven or microwave, stirring halfway, until creamy again.