Just wanted to share this recipe with you real quick before I head out the door. This is a perfect weeknight dinner idea that you can have ready in a snap. I first saw this recipe on Chew Out Loud, {Go check out Amy’s blog – it’s so yummy! } and made a beeline to the fridge to see if I had the ingredients to make it. This is the kind of dinner my boys would eat EVERY SINGLE NIGHT if I would let them. Cheese + Pasta + Bacon = Three Very Happy Little Boys!
But I have to admit, it’s not just for them. I had to really stop myself from refilling my own bowl over and over. Little Boy #1 was calling dibs on leftovers for breakfast the next morning before we were even done with dinner! He’s getting to the age where I have to feed him constantly. Last time we were at Subway he ate a 12 inch club and a bag of chips with no problem. He’s 8 years old! No more kid’s menu for him. Can’t imagine when all three boys are eating that way. Yikes!
OH MAN, that creamy sauce and salty bacon are calling my name right now! Hope you get the chance to make this one… Do it for me, okay? Have a lovely day!
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Creamy Mac and Cheese With Bacon
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Cuisine: American
Description
The creamiest cheese sauce plus salty bits of bacon make this dish irresistible!
Ingredients
- 16 ounces celletani pasta
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
- 8 ounces monterey jack cheese, shredded
- 4 ounces swiss cheese, shredded
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add 1 tablespoon salt to the water, and cook pasta according to directions on the box.
- Measure the milk into a microwave safe bowl and heat for 2 minutes.
- In the meantime, melt 5 tablespoons butter over medium high heat. Whisk in the flour, and whisk continuously for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the warm milk, and whisk until smooth. Reduce heat to medium, and bring to a gentle simmer stirring occasionally for 3-4 minutes. When it has slightly thickened add salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and ground mustard.
- Add the cheese and stir until smooth.
- When the pasta is cooked, drain the water, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
- Add the cheese sauce to the pasta, and add pasta water as needed to thin out the sauce if it is too thick. Sauce will thicken a bit as it cools.
- Top with bacon, additional black pepper, and parsley.
Notes
Helpful Tips: Any kind of cheese that melts smoothly is okay to use in this recipe. Great time to clean out the cheese drawer! Don’t use pre shredded cheese. Your mac and cheese won’t be as smooth. Serve immediately. The sauce will thicken up as it sits, so it tastes best right away. Reserve some pasta water to add the the mac and cheese if your sauce does become to thick. Recipe adapted from Chew Out Loud.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 571
- Sugar: 7.1g
- Sodium: 916mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12.1g
- Trans Fat: 0.4g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1.6g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Thao @ In Good Flavor says
My kids love mac and cheese (and not just the ones that come out of a box) and would love this, especially with the bacon.
Julie says
Bacon makes everything better! Hope you get the chance to try this!
Jen and Emily @ Layers of Happiness says
This mac and cheese looks to die for! So yummy and comforting! I’m totally going to put this into our dinner rotation!
Julie says
Hope you love it too!
Karla Slonaker says
I have a 14 month old nephew who I babysit that loves boxed mac and cheese so I thought I’d make this for lunch and have for his meals as well. I eliminated the salt in water, recipe and used unsalted butter to make more healthy for him. My family and I felt the cheese and bacon added enough salt that we only added pepper at the table. So…a lower sodium option! It was yummy!
Julie says
Good to know, glad you liked it!
Rory says
I made this a second time last night and left out the bacon and it was still marvelous! My absolute fave mac ‘n cheese. I really wish the rest of my family liked it too. 🙁 Oh, well, more for me!!!
Julie says
Yay for leftovers!