How To Make Bacon Mac and Cheese
The bacon added to this three-cheese mac and cheese recipe imparts a nice crispy texture and a smokey flavor that complements the sharp cheddar.
Serves:
Ingredients
- 8ozbacon,cooked and crumbled
- 1lbelbow macaroni
- ½cupunsalted butter
- ½cupflour
- 2tspmustard,powdered
- ½tspcayenne pepper
- 1tsppaprika
- 6cupsmilk
- 2tspkosher salt
- ½tspcoarse ground black pepper
- 1largeegg
- 4ozMonterey jack cheese
- 4ozmozzarella
- 12ozsharp cheddar,divided
Instructions
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Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
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Shred the cheeses, keeping 2 cups of the cheddar off to the side for the topping.
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Cook the pasta then let it sit in the water an extra 10 minutes (this will help it avoid soaking up the cheese sauce), before draining and rinsing gently.
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Place the bacon in a large pan over medium heat. Cook for about 4 to 5 minutes, until crispy.
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Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on paper towels.
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Leave 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pan; discard the rest of the fat.
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Add the butter to the pan and melt.
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Add the flour, mustard, cayenne and paprika and whisk together until fully combined, cook for an additional 15 seconds.
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Add the milk slowly while whisking to keep the mixture well combined.
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Add in the salt and pepper and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
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Turn off the heat.
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Remove 1 cup of the milk mixture and let cool for 3 to 5 minutes in the refrigerator in a larger glass measuring cup or bowl.
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Add the egg to the cooled milk and whisk it well until fully combined.
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Turn the heat on the pot back on to medium-low.
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Slowly pour the egg and milk mixture into the rest of the milk while whisking very well.
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Add in the Monterey jack, mozzarella and 1 cup of the sharp cheddar and whisk until combined.
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Add the rinsed macaroni and half of the bacon pieces back into the pot and toss with the cheese sauce.
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Pour into a 9×13-inch baking dish and top with the remaining 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese and bacon.
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Bake for 30 minutes, uncovered.
Nutrition
- Calories: 1003.59kcal
- Fat: 35.96g
- Saturated Fat: 18.62g
- Trans Fat: 0.67g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 10.46g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.15g
- Carbohydrates: 130.88g
- Fiber: 4.73g
- Sugar: 7.97g
- Protein: 36.03g
- Cholesterol: 104.45mg
- Sodium: 810.76mg
- Calcium: 491.57mg
- Potassium: 469.39mg
- Iron: 2.37mg
- Vitamin A: 246.09µg
- Vitamin C: 0.06mg
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