Hearty Bacon Kale Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

BACON, KALE AND TOMATO MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 2-quart casserole with cooking spray. Arrange bacon between sheets of microwavable paper towels on microwavable dinner plate. Microwave on High 3 to 4 minutes or until bacon is crisp. Cool; crumble.
• In 3-quart saucepan, melt 1/4 cup butter over low heat. Stir in flour, mustard, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat. Gradually stir in milk. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly; boil 1 minute. Stir in cheese, 1/2 cup at a time, until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in uncooked macaroni. Gently stir in kale, tomatoes and bacon; pour into casserole.
• Bake uncovered 15 minutes; stir. (If any macaroni is sticking up above surface, press down with back of spoon.) Meanwhile, in small microwavable bowl, microwave 1 tablespoon butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in bread crumbs.
• Sprinkle topping over macaroni mixture. Bake 12 to 17 minutes longer or until macaroni is tender when pierced with fork and topping is light golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

CHEESE'S BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook and stir the cut-up kielbasa in a large skillet over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, until heated through and beginning to brown. Remove the sausage from the skillet, and set aside.
• Fill a pan with lightly salted water, bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stir in the macaroni, and return to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through but is still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain well.
• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Melt the butter in the skillet over medium-low heat, and cook and stir the chopped onion for about 5 minutes, until translucent. Whisk in the flour, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Cook and stir the butter, onion and flour for 2 to 3 minutes to make a roux, and remove from the heat. Whisk in the milk a little at a time, stirring constantly, until all the milk has been incorporated, and return to low heat. Bring the sauce to a simmer, and cook over low heat for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly, to finish cooking the flour. Whisk in the Cheddar cheese, a few cubes at a time, until all the cheese has been incorporated and the sauce is hot and smooth.
• Pour the macaroni into the cheese sauce, and stir to combine. Stir in the cooked kielbasa, salt, and pepper.
• Spoon the macaroni mixture into the prepared baking dish, and sprinkle the bread crumbs over the top. Bake for about 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until the crumbs are brown and the casserole is bubbling. Let stand for 15 minutes after baking, to set before serving.