Best Bacon Shrimp Mac And Cheese Bites Recipes

DECADENT SHRIMP AND BACON MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• 2. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil over high heat; add 1 teaspoon salt and the dry pasta. Return to a boil and cook 6 to 8 minutes, or until al dente. Drain in a colander, return pasta to the pot and stir in 1 tablespoon unsalted butter. Toss in the medium Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Sharp Cheddar cheeses, and set aside.
• 3. To make a sauce, add 4 tablespoons butter and garlic to a 2-quart saucepan and heat over medium heat, 1 to 2 minutes, or until butter is melted and garlic is softened. Add flour and stir continuously, using a whisk, to combine. Continue to cook over a medium heat and gradually whisk in the milk and cream. Stir continuously to prevent scorching; cook 6 to 8 minutes, or until starting to thicken. Remove from heat, and stir in 1-1/2 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and Gruyere cheese.
• 4. Pour sauce over the pasta, add the bacon, jalapeno and shrimp and stir until well combined.Pour the pasta mixture into the dish.
• 5. Toss breadcrumbs together with Parmesan cheese and sprinkle over pasta. Bake in pre-heated oven until top is golden, about 30 minutes.

BACON SHRIMP MAC AND CHEESE (BITES)

Steps:

• I begin the recipe by browning the bacon lardons in a large sauce pan. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a papertowel. Add the shallots and cook until just softened, add some butter and flour and cook until lightly brown, you are making a simple béchamel sauce. Add the milk and ½ and ½, stir until the mixture begins to bubble slightly and thicken, reduce heat and continue to cook add a few pinches of ground mustard, a dash of paprika, toss in a bay leaf or two and a bit of chipotle powder, salt and pepper and taste. Add a dash or pinch more until you say YUMMO....but wait we still have to add the cheese and then a touch of nutmeg. Taste adjust seasoning. Toss in the chopped parsley (optional)
• Now for the Shrimp I season with montreal seasoning, and olive oil and saute or grill until just pink. Cool and chop
• Pour the béchamel sauce over the cooked pasta add the shrimp and the bacon. Let cool and form into balls. Set up a breading station. Flour one bowl, I mix the egg in one bowl and then mix the breadcrumbs and the corn meal in another. In a deep fryer or in a deep saute pan add the canola oil and heat. You will know it ready when you toss in a bit of bread crumbs and they don't sink. Put the pasta balls in flour, then egg then bread crumb mixture and place carefully in the hot oil, cook until golden brown. Be very gentle removing them they fall apart easily when they are piping hot. They really are little nuggets of yumminess! Perfect with or without a dipping sauce. I reserved some of the béchamel but it really didn't need it. Hope you love them...

MAC & CHEESE BACON BITES

Steps:

• Cook the pasta for 4 minutes less than the package instructions. Drain and set aside, reserving 1⁄4 cup of the pasta cooking water.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and then add the flour. Whisk together, cooking until the flour resembles wet sand and begins to smell nutty and fragrant. Add the milk, whisking until there is no lumps. Bring to a boil and cook for one minute, stirring often.
• Remove from heat and stir in the cheese. Season generously with pepper and add salt to taste (this will depend on the saltiness of your cheese.) Add the pasta and fold together until the pasta is coated, add 1 tablespoon of the pasta cooking water, if necessary, to loosen.
• Lightly grease a muffin tin and line each cup with a piece of precooked bacon to come up sides of cup. Spoon mac and cheese into each of the cups and then top with some Italian panko breadcrumbs.
• Bake for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown. Remove and allow to cool 5-10 minutes to settle into cups before removing and serving.