Baked Bacon Mac and Cheese
Make a comfort food favorite with this recipe for Baked Bacon Mac and Cheese. You'll love the crunchy top and of course the bacon!
Equipment
- Wooden Spoon
- Saucepan
- Whisk
- Baking Dish
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Dried Pasta Elbows, shells or Cavatappi preferred
- ½ Pound Bacon
- ½ Cup Butter
- ½ Cup Flour
- 1 ½ Cups Milk
- 2 Cups Half and Half
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 Tsp Paprika
- 1 Tsp Ground Mustard
- 2 Cups Sharp Cheddar
- 1 Cup Cheddar Jack
- 1 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs
- 3 Tbsp Butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place bacon in an aluminum foil lined baking sheet and bake until crisp. Remove bacon from sheet and let cool on a paper towel lined plate. Crumble into chunks.
- Cook pasta per package instructions until al dente. Set aside.
- In a large pot or dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and stir together until fully incorporated. Cook roux until flour is cooked through and it has a slight nutty aroma.
- Slowly add milk to roux mixture, whisking together so that it is smooth and fully blended together. Add is half and half.
- Add in seasonings and salt and pepper to taste.
- Whisk in cheese and stir until fully incorporated. Let simmer for several minutes until sauce thickens.
- Add pasta to the sauce mixture and adjust seasoning as desired. Stir in crumbled bacon. Transfer mixture to a baking dish.
- Adjust oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
- Melt butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top macaroni with bread crumbs and bake for 25-30 minutes. Let cool slightly and serve. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 1075kcalCarbohydrates: 80gProtein: 36gFat: 68gSaturated Fat: 38gCholesterol: 176mgSodium: 924mgPotassium: 524mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1803IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 603mgIron: 3mg
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