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Baked Bacon Mac and Cheese

Get ready for the ultimate comfort food: Baked Bacon Mac and Cheese! This baked pasta is creamy, cheesy, and so delicious. Featuring crispy bacon, this dish is sure to impress even the pickiest of eaters!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 894 kcal
Course: Side Dish , Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 12 oz macaroni elbows
  • 3 tbsp butter plus extra for buttering the dish
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp dry mustard
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper
  • pinch of ground nutmeg
  • cracked black pepper to taste
  • 8 oz shredded cheese see notes
  • salt to taste
  • 8 slices of bacon cooked until crispy and chopped
  • 4 tbsp panko breadcrumbs

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 and cook the macaroni elbows as per the packet instructions in boiling salted water until just about al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Once it is frothy, whisk in the flour. Cook for a few minutes, still whisking so that the sauce won't taste of raw flour.
  3. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth until you have a smooth sauce. Whisk in the milk and raise the temperature to a medium high heat. Continue to cook, whisking often until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
  4. Whisk in the heavy cream, garlic powder, dry mustard, cayenne and nutmeg before seasoning to taste with black pepper.
  5. Remove the white sauce from the heat and stir in 2/3 of the cheese, along with the bacon pieces and the cooked macaroni. Season to taste with salt and a little more pepper, if needed.
  6. Transfer the macaroni to a butter baking dish and top with the rest of the cheese, followed by the breadcrumbs.
  7. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the macaroni is bubbly and golden. Leave to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • A mix of sharp cheddar and gruyere works well in this recipe in a 3:1 ratio. However, any hard cheese you’ve got to use up in the fridge, or your favorites will also taste delicious! 
  • Grate your own cheese if you can as pre-shredded cheese tends to have additives to stop it from sticking in the bag that will change the texture of the sauce.
  • Arguments were had testing this recipe if it included enough cheese. I like it this way and so did the majority of others, but some testers wanted more - so adding more cheese is totally an option! 
  • If you don’t have dry mustard to hand stir in 1 tsp of strong prepared mustard instead.
  • A mix of sharp cheddar and gruyere works well in this recipe in a 3:1 ratio. However, any hard cheese you’ve got to use up in the fridge, or your favorites will also taste delicious! 
  • Grate your own cheese if you can as pre-shredded cheese tends to have additives to stop it from sticking in the bag that will change the texture of the sauce.
  • Arguments were had testing this recipe if it included enough cheese. I like it this way and so did the majority of others, but some testers wanted more - so adding more cheese is totally an option! 
  • If you don’t have dry mustard to hand stir in 1 tsp of strong prepared mustard instead.

Nutrition Information

Calories 894kcal (45%) Carbohydrates 83g (28%) Protein 37g (74%) Fat 46g (71%) Saturated Fat 22g (110%) Polyunsaturated Fat 5g Monounsaturated Fat 15g Trans Fat 0.1g Cholesterol 116mg (39%) Sodium 804mg (34%) Potassium 585mg (17%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 8g (16%) Vitamin A 954IU (19%) Vitamin C 0.2mg (0%) Calcium 438mg (44%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 894

% Daily Value*

Calories 894kcal 45%
Carbohydrates 83g 28%
Protein 37g 74%
Fat 46g 71%
Saturated Fat 22g 110%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5g 29%
Monounsaturated Fat 15g 75%
Trans Fat 0.1g 5%
Cholesterol 116mg 39%
Sodium 804mg 34%
Potassium 585mg 12%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 8g 16%
Vitamin A 954IU 19%
Vitamin C 0.2mg 0%
Calcium 438mg 44%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.