Description
Creamy smoky bacon mac & cheese delivers comfort in every bite, blending rich flavors with crispy bacon bits. Cheese lovers will savor this indulgent Southern-style dish that promises warmth and satisfaction with each forkful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 6 strips thick-cut bacon
Main Carbohydrates:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) elbow macaroni
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Dairy and Seasonings:
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
- Boil macaroni in salted water for 8-10 minutes until perfectly tender; drain and set aside.
- Render bacon in a skillet over medium heat until golden and crisp, approximately 7-9 minutes; crumble into bite-sized fragments.
- Create a roux in a saucepan by melting butter and incorporating flour, stirring continuously for 60 seconds to eliminate raw flour taste.
- Slowly stream milk into the roux, whisking constantly to prevent lumps; simmer until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 3-4 minutes.
- Incorporate shredded cheddar into the creamy base, stirring until cheese melts completely and creates a smooth, glossy sauce.
- Fold cooked macaroni and crispy bacon pieces into the velvety cheese sauce, ensuring every pasta strand is generously coated.
- Transfer to serving dishes, garnishing with additional crumbled bacon or a sprinkle of cheese for enhanced flavor and visual appeal.
- Serve immediately while sauce remains warm and pasta maintains its ideal texture.
Notes
- For extra smoky flavor, use smoked cheddar or add a dash of smoked paprika to enhance the bacon’s richness.
- Ensure pasta is perfectly al dente by tasting a piece 1-2 minutes before package cooking time; drain immediately to prevent overcooking.
- Crisp bacon separately and drain on paper towels to remove excess grease, maintaining a crunchy texture in the final dish.
- Make this recipe gluten-free by substituting all-purpose flour with cornstarch or a gluten-free flour blend, and using gluten-free pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg