# Meaty Mexican Pastas McAlister Deli's Bacon Jalapeno Pasta Blends Meaty and Zesty Flavors By Jana Pijak | Published 2015-06-19 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mexican-pasta References: [mcalistersdeli](http://www.mcalistersdeli.com/menu/featured-items/chicken-bacon-jalapeno-pasta?is_lightbox=1) [McAlister Deli](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/asian-crunch-salad) is a casual food establishment that serves up gourmet-inspired recipes like this Mexican pasta for those on-the-go. The restaurant's Chicken Bacon Jalapeno Pasta is a favorite among fans of spice and features a blend of four cheeses that are mixed to create a signature cream suace. McAlister Deli's popular menu item is a Mexican pasta creation that is inspired by the nation's colorful and spicy cuisine. Fans of traditional Hispanic cuisine are sure to enjoy this pasta dish that features a tomato, and herb topping. Its finishing touch is a dash of jalapeno peppers that add a kick of flavor to its otherwise smooth and creamy sauce. This recipe is not only inspired by Mexican cuisine but is also a fresh twist on a [classic Alfredo recipe](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mac-cheese-alfredo). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.6/10 - Popularity: 37% | Activity: 32% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Mexican Fusion:** The fusion of Mexican flavors with traditional pasta dishes presents an opportunity for chefs to create new, innovative dishes. - **Gourmet Fast Food:** As casual food establishments continue to offer more upscale, gourmet-inspired recipes, fast food chains could benefit from following this trend and elevating their offerings. - **Spice Craze:** The popularity of spicy foods, like McAlister Deli's Chicken Bacon Jalapeno Pasta, presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for companies to incorporate more heat into their menu items. ### Where This Applies - **Casual Dining:** Casual dining establishments can capitalize on the trend of fusing different cuisines to create new, unique dishes for their menus. - **Fast Food:** Fast food chains could capitalize on the trend of offering more gourmet-inspired recipes to attract consumers who want food that is both fast and high-quality. - **Food Manufacturing:** The trend of incorporating more spice into menu items presents an opportunity for food manufacturing companies to create new products that cater to the growing demand for spicy foods. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Tex Mex Macaroni Bowls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/qdoba-mac-queso.md) - [Poblano Pepper Macaroni Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/white-cheddar-poblano-mac-n-cheese.md) - [Southwest-Style Pasta Salads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/southwest-pasta.md) - [Spicy Pepperoni Slices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/margherita-jalapeno-pepperoni.md) - [Spicy Jalapeno-Topped Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/taco-bell-2.md) - [Triple Cheese Manicotti Pastas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/three-meat-manicotti.md) - [Spicy Chicken Parmesan Macaronis](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/buffalo-chicken-parmesan-macaroni-and-cheese.md) - [Oven-Baked Pasta Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oven-baked-pasta.md) - [Spiced Macaroni Side Dishes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bob-evans-queso-macaroni-cheese.md)