Bacon Cheddar Macaroni Cheese Recipe 465

BACON & CHEDDAR MACARONI & CHEESE RECIPE - (4.6/5)

Steps:

• Bring a medium (6- to 8-quart) pot of water to a boil. Salt it generously (it should taste like the sea). Stir in the pasta and cook according to the package directions. Drain (but don't rinse, or you'll rinse away starches that will help thicken the sauce) and return to the empty pot. Meanwhile, place a large (12- to 14-inch) sauté pan over high heat for several minutes. When hot, add the bacon and sauté until browned and crispy (lower the heat to medium-high if necessary to prevent scorching), about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and, using a slotted spoon or spatula, remove the bacon from the pan and drain on paper towels. Pour off the fat from the pan (into a metal can or heatproof cup, not down the drain or you'll potentially clog your pipes) and return the pan to medium-high heat. Add the heavy cream and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Lower the heat to medium and continue to simmer until the cream is reduced slightly, about 3 minutes. Add the Cheddar cheese and bacon. Stir well and cook over medium-high heat, stirring now and then, until the cheese has melted and the mixture thickens, about 3 minutes. Season with the salt and pepper. Stir the sauce into the cooked and drained pasta in the pot. Place over medium heat and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes to thicken the sauce and allow the pasta to absorb the flavors, stirring now and then. Serve in individual bowls topped with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of sliced scallions. Variation: Lorraine Mac & Cheese: You can easily change up this recipe by using the classic flavors of a quiche Lorraine for inspiration. You just have to add caramelized onions and substitute Swiss cheese for the Cheddar. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons grease from the cooked bacon. Add 2 cups of finely sliced yellow onions and sauté over medium heat until soft, brown, and caramelized, about 20 minutes. Pour in the 3 cups of cream and continue with the recipe (step 3), substituting firmly packed shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese for the Cheddar. If you have cooked, crumbled bacon and caramelized onions on hand, the recipe is even easier. When stirring the cheese into the reduced cream, just add 1 cup bacon crumbles and 1⁄2 cup caramelized onions, too. Then proceed with the recipe. Love Notes: At Mother's, we prepare a lot of our components in large batches ahead of time, like the bacon crumbles in this recipe. It's a real time-saver, and a good idea for home cooks, too. To make things easier, try fitting the work into a recipe you're already cooking, like this one. That way you're not getting pots and pans dirty just for the heck of it. For example, cook twice the amount of bacon and save the rest in the fridge or freezer for salads, scrambles, or sandwiches. Dicing slippery, floppy bacon is tough-unless you firm it up with a 10- to 15-minute stint in the freezer. Stack the strips to make the job go even faster. Avoid pre-shredded cheese. It may seem like a time-saver, but much of the cheese's flavor has dissipated, and the starchy coating on the outside will interfere with the sauce.

CHEDDAR-BACON MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 350°F
• COOK macaroni as directed on package. Meanwhile, melt butter in large saucepan on low heat. Stir in flour; cook 2 minute or until bubbly. Gradually stir in milk; cook on medium heat until mixture comes to boil, stirring constantly. Simmer on low heat 3 to 5 minute or until thickened. Add 1-1/2 cups cheese; cook and stir 5 minute or until melted.
• DRAIN macaroni. Add to sauce with bacon; mix lightly. Spoon into 1-1/2-qt. casserole; top with remaining cheese.
• BAKE 20 minute or until heated through.
• Substitute: Prepare using KRAFT Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese.

MACARONI AND CHEDDAR CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat a medium, deep skillet over medium heat. Add oil and butter. When butter melts into the oil, add flour and combine. Gently cook, whisking flour and butter together, until smooth and flour has had a chance to cook, about 3 minutes. Slowly add milk while continuing to whisk. Gently bring milk to a bubble while stirring frequently. Allow the milk to thicken a bit, then stir in 2 cups of shredded Cheddar cheese a handful at a time. Season sauce with nutmeg and cayenne. Taste and add a little salt, if you like. Add cooked pasta to sauce and coat completely by turning over and over in the cheese sauce. Transfer to a flameproof baking dish and top with remaining cheese. Place baking dish under a hot broiler and brown the Cheddar cheese on top.

CHEDDAR-BACON MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cook macaroni as directed on package. Meanwhile, melt butter in large saucepan on low heat. Stir in flour; cook 2 min. or until bubbly. Gradually stir in milk; cook on medium heat until mixture comes to boil, stirring constantly. Simmer on low heat 3 to 5 min. or until thickened. Add 1 1/2 cups cheese; cook and stir 5 min. or until melted.
• Drain macaroni. Add to sauce with bacon; mix lightly. Spoon into 1 1/2 quart casserole; top with remaining cheese.
• Bake 20 min. or until heated through.

CHEDDAR-BACON MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Cook macaroni as directed on package. Meanwhile, melt butter in large saucepan on low heat. Stir in flour; cook 2 min. or until bubbly. Gradually stir in milk; cook on medium heat until mixture comes to boil, stirring constantly. Simmer on low heat 3 to 5 min. or until thickened. Add 1-1/2 cups cheese; cook and stir 5 min. or until melted.
• Drain macaroni. Add to sauce with bacon; mix lightly. Spoon into 1-1/2-qt. casserole; top with remaining cheese.
• Bake 20 min. or until heated through.

BACON CHEESEBURGER MAC

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in boiling water until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes; drain and return pasta to the pot.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Season browned beef with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper; add ketchup and stir. Bring mixture to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the liquid thickens slightly, 5 to 10 minutes; pour over the pasta in the pot and stir.
• Stir Cheddar cheese into the pasta mixture until melted; add bacon bits and stir.

BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH BACON

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to box directions and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add flour and stir constantly until smooth.
• Turn heat to medium and add milk stirring constantly until thick. (About 10 minutes).
• Add hot sauce. Stir until mixed in evenly.
• Add pasta, bacon and cheese. Mix until cheese melts, bacon is mixed in, and pasta is evenly coated.
• Pour macaroni and cheese into a 9x13 baking dish and top according to taste.
• Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for about 25-30 minutes. (If using parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs take it out when the top looks lightly browned. If using cheddar cheese topping take out when top becomes darkened, but not burnt.).