Description
Discover the ultimate comfort food with our Bacon Mac & Cheese Casserole recipe. Learn how to create a cheesy, bacon-filled dish that will leave you craving more.
Ingredients
- – 227g (1/2 lb) elbow macaroni
- – 4 slices beef bacon
- – 6 tbsp (90 ml) vegetable oil, separated
- – 4 tbsp (60 ml) all-purpose flour
- – 473ml (2 cups) milk
- – 1 tbsp (15 ml) hot sauce
- – 1 tbsp (15 ml) dijon mustard
- – 1/2 tsp (3 ml) salt
- – 1/2 tsp (3 ml) black pepper
- – 227g (8 oz) cream cheese
- – 227g (8 oz) mozzarella cheese (or Monterey Jack)
- – 227g (8 oz) cheddar cheese
- – 236ml (1 cup) Panko bread crumbs
- – 60g (1/4 cup) parsley, chopped (loosely packed)
Instructions
- Set your oven to 400°F. Combine 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, Panko breadcrumbs, and chopped parsley in a small bowl. Put this mixture aside.
- In a large pot, cook the elbow macaroni in well-salted water according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain and toss with 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to avoid sticking. Place the pasta in a 9×9” square dish or a 13×9” pan that has been lightly greased. Set it aside.
- In a large frying pan, cook the beef bacon until it becomes crispy and brown. Take the bacon out and set it aside to crumble. Leave the bacon drippings in the pan. Mix the crumbled bacon with the pasta, keeping some aside for garnishing later.
- In the same pan with the bacon drippings, add 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil and let it melt on medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for a minute. Pour in the milk and whisk until well combined. Add the Dijon mustard, hot sauce, salt, and pepper, and whisk together. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 4 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Introduce the cream cheese to the sauce and stir until it melts. Add the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses and stir until they melt and blend into a smooth sauce.
- Drizzle the cheese sauce over the pasta and bacon, and mix thoroughly. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the top and bake without covering for 20 minutes until the top is golden and crispy. This recipe yields 4 main servings or 6 side servings.
Notes
- Consider using smoked mozzarella or smoked cheddar for a richer flavor.
- Mix crispy fried onions with the breadcrumb topping for added crunch.
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a spicy twist to the cheese sauce.
