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Preparing homemade Mac & Cheese has been a no-brainier for many years in our home. With all of the dilemma about branded foods using food coloring in their Mac & Cheese products, we have been sticking to a homemade version. But hey – I might still use food coloring here and there, although the more natural the better. The great thing is that making your own Mac & Cheese is as simple as preparing the “boxed” version.

Smoky Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

To pamper it with a kick of flavor, I used smoked Gouda cheese and crispy pieces of bacon. With nicely baked crisp tops, this will become the best Mac & Cheese you have ever drooled over. And, say, if you’re preparing this for kids – you will truly become their hero!

Other Pasta Dishes to Try:

Recipe

Smoky Bacon Macaroni and Cheese in a bowl

Smoky Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

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Servings
12 servings
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 1 hr

Ingredients

  • 16 oz Elbow Macaroni
  • 12 oz Bacon
  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 1/4 cup All-purpose Flour
  • 2 cup Whole Milk
  • 2 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
  • 1/4 cup Dijon Mustard
  • 1 cup Mozzarella
  • 2 cup Colby Jack Cheese
  • 1 cup Smoked Gouda (Sold at Costco)

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.
    Macaroni being cooked in a pot over the stove top
  • Preheat the oven to 400F. Lay out each slice of bacon on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the sheet covered with bacon into the oven; bake until golden and crispy. Lay out cooked bacon on a paper towel, to get rid of any excessive grease.
    Cooked bacon on a plate
  • Using a sauce pan, warm up butter, 1 cup of milk and whipping cream. Whisk the remaining 1 cup of milk together with flour, until there are no lumps. Add flour mixture to the sauce pan. Once the milk is hot, whisk in Dijon mustard; also add diced or shredded Colby Jack cheese and smoked Gouda cheese.
    Butter, milk, cheese, whipping cream, flour, and dijon mustard in a saucepan being whisked together
  • Add macaroni into the sauce and stir to combine. To the the macaroni, add most of the bacon pieces, leave a bit behind for sprinkling.
    Macaroni and cheese in a pot with bacon being added into it
  • This step is optional, but that crust on top is such a drool! Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle it with shredded mozzarella cheese and the remaining bacon pieces. 
    Smoky Bacon Macaroni and Cheese placed into casserole dish and cheese sprinkled over the top of it
  • Bake at 400F for 15 minutes or until the tops are crispy.
    Smoky Bacon Macaroni and Cheese in a bowl on the table
Nutrition Facts
Smoky Bacon Macaroni and Cheese
Amount Per Serving
Calories 635 Calories from Fat 405
% Daily Value*
Fat 45g69%
Saturated Fat 24g120%
Cholesterol 133mg44%
Sodium 651mg27%
Potassium 290mg8%
Carbohydrates 35g12%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 23g46%
Vitamin A 1111IU22%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 420mg42%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted October 6, 2013

About Author

Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.