Best Karens Mac And Cheese With Bacon Recipes

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BAKED MAC AND CHEESE WITH BACON



Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon image

There are few dishes more comforting and indulgent than mac and cheese, and this version will become your new go-to. Mac and cheese may seem straightforward, but in an all-star mac, each component is carefully considered and intentionally chosen to build a creamy, melty pasta bake. Master each element of the dish with this winning recipe.It all starts with the noodles, and in this recipe, we use large elbow macaroni noodles. They're a bit thicker than your average elbows, so they catch more of that creamy cheese sauce (and the exposed ends crisp up beautifully when baked).At the core of any good mac and cheese is a winning blend of cheeses; this recipe calls for three different types of cheese, each one serving a distinct purpose. Extra-sharp Cheddar brings that punch of sharp cheesy flavor and coveted orange color; Parmesan makes an appearance in the breadcrumb topping, bringing a natural bite of salt and crisping up beautifully. Then, for the third cheese, have your pick of Monterey Jack, provolone, or mozzarella, all white cheeses that bring creaminess and that stretchy, cheese-pull texture we look for in any high-quality mac.At the base of the cheese sauce is a roux-a mixture of butter and flour-and we incorporate mustard powder to bring salty, earthy tang. Then, to kick this mac and cheese up a notch, we add crumbled bacon to the breadcrumb crust and mixed directly into the pasta bake.From Skillet Cauliflower Mac to Macaroni Pie, there are countless ways to reinvent this comforting dish. But before you get really creative, it's important to master the basics. This Creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon is an excellent, extra-indulgent recipe to keep in your rotation-it's sure to please a family or a crowd.

Provided by Nancie McDermott

Categories     Macaroni

Time 1h10m

Yield Serves 10

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 pound uncooked large elbow macaroni
1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided
3/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, shredded or grated (about 1/2 cup)
6 thick-cut bacon slices, cooked and crumbled, divided
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard
3 cups whole milk
1 cup whole buttermilk
1/3 cup unsalted butter, plus more for greasing dish
12 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 3 cups)
4 ounces Monterey Jack, provolone, or mozzarella cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
2 large eggs, well beaten

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Bring 3 quarts water to a boil over high in a large stock-pot. Stir in pasta and 1 tablespoon of the salt, and return to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender but still firm, about 6 minutes. Reserve and set aside 2 cups cooking water, and then drain the pasta. Return pasta to pot, and remove from heat. Cover to keep warm.
  • Generously butter a 13- x 9-inch baking dish, and set aside. Toss together breadcrumbs; Parmesan cheese; and half of the cooked, crumbled bacon in a bowl, and set aside. Stir together flour, pepper, mustard, and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a small bowl. Heat milk and buttermilk in a medium saucepan over medium, undisturbed, until barely steaming but not boiling, 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside.
  • Melt butter in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high. Add flour mixture. Cook, whisking often, until mixture is smooth and thick and has a delicate golden color and toasted aroma, about 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in warm milk mixture. Bring to a boil over high. Cook, stirring often, until thickened to the texture of cream, about 3 minutes.
  • Stir shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses into milk mixture, and remove from heat. Stir in beaten eggs until mixture forms a smooth sauce.
  • Uncover cooked pasta, and stir. (If pasta sticks together, stir in reserved warm cooking water, and drain again.) Stir cheese mixture and remaining bacon into drained pasta in stockpot.
  • Transfer pasta mixture to prepared baking dish, and sprinkle evenly with breadcrumb mixture. Bake in preheated oven until firm, puffed up, and lightly browned, 35 to 40 minutes. Serve hot or warm.

BACON MAC & CHEESE



Bacon Mac & Cheese image

Jalapeno pepper adds an extra kick to this bacon mac and cheese, giving it great grown-up taste. I serve this comforting dish throughout the year.-Shelly Boehm, South Bend, Indiana

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Side Dishes

Time 1h15m

Yield 16 servings (3/4 cup each).

Number Of Ingredients 14

6 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1 pound bacon strips, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
3 cups 2% milk
2 cups shredded pepper Jack cheese
1 package (8 ounces) process cheese (Velveeta), cubed
1 cup shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Dash hot pepper sauce
3 green onions, chopped

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions., Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels; drain, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings. Saute jalapeno in reserved drippings. Add milk and cheeses to pan; cook and stir until blended. Stir in the onion powder, chili powder, salt, pepper and pepper sauce. , Drain macaroni; add to pan with the onions and cooked bacon. Mix well. , Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 10-15 minutes longer or until heated through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 438 calories, Fat 26g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 75mg cholesterol, Sodium 1106mg sodium, Carbohydrate 26g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 25g protein.

MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND BACON



Macaroni and Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Bacon image

Very intense, rich dish due to the sharpness of the cheeses melded with spicy, creamy, and tangy flavors.

Provided by lalala71

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Pork

Time 1h20m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 22

1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
¼ cup butter
½ cup sour cream
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
4 cups grated Asiago cheese
4 cups grated Vermont Cheddar cheese
4 slices bacon
2 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, sliced thin
4 cloves garlic, minced
⅛ teaspoon brown sugar
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
½ teaspoon ground mustard
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil, add macaroni and cook for 8 minutes (noodles will still be slightly hard). Drain noodles and transfer to a large bowl with 1/4 cup of butter and toss to coat. Whisk together the sour cream, egg, and cream cheese; add to the pasta and mix well. Stir in 3 cups of grated Asiago and 3 cups of grated Cheddar cheese, reserving the remaining 2 cups of cheese for the topping.
  • Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate and chop into small pieces.
  • Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  • Stir 2 tablespoons butter, the onion, and garlic into the bacon drippings in the pan and cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and add the brown sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes until the onions are very soft and golden brown. Mix the cooked bacon, parsley, and panko breadcrumbs into the onions, transfer mixture to a small bowl and set aside.
  • Return the skillet to the heat and melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour, and stir until the mixture becomes paste-like and light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Gradually whisk the milk into the flour mixture and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook and stir until the mixture is smooth and thickened. Stir in the ground mustard, paprika, salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Remove sauce from heat and let cool for five minutes.
  • Pour the sauce over the macaroni mixture, stirring well. Transfer to a greased 9x13 inch pan and sprinkle with the remaining 2 cups of Cheddar cheese. Top cheese with the onion breadcrumb mixture.
  • Bake in preheated oven until bubbling, hot and golden brown on top, about 30 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 941.8 calories, Carbohydrate 56.6 g, Cholesterol 197 mg, Fat 59.5 g, Fiber 2.4 g, Protein 45.6 g, SaturatedFat 36.3 g, Sodium 1475.4 mg, Sugar 7.2 g

CHEDDAR-BACON MAC AND CHEESE



Cheddar-Bacon Mac and Cheese image

Creamy, cheesy, and quick . . . it's everything you need.

Provided by Kraft

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips     Kraft Natural Shredded Cheese

Time 40m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 ¾ cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
2 cups KRAFT Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese, divided
3 slices OSCAR MAYER Center Cut Bacon, cooked, crumbled

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 385.1 calories, Carbohydrate 30 g, Cholesterol 59.9 mg, Fat 21.8 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 16.5 g, SaturatedFat 13.5 g, Sodium 411.3 mg, Sugar 4.7 g

KAREN'S MAC AND CHEESE WITH BACON



Karen's Mac and Cheese With Bacon image

We're not sure there are many flavors that pair better than bacon and cheese. The more cheese (and bacon) the better and this macaroni and cheese recipe is packed with both! We love the variety of cheeses... makes for creamy mac and cheese. The bacon adds a bit of a salty, smoky flavor that complements the cheesy goodness.

Provided by karen wilsey

Categories     Pasta

Time 45m

Number Of Ingredients 10

4 oz Colby Jack cheese
4 oz sharp cheddar
8 oz mozzarella cheese
1/2 lb Velveeta cheese
4 Tbsp butter or margarine
5 slice bacon, cooked until crisp
salt and pepper, to taste
1 1/2 c milk, 2%
1 lb box of pasta, cooked
1/2 c bread crumbs

Steps:

  • 1. Cut Velveeta cheese into small cubes. Combine remaining cheese in a bowl.
  • 2. Put the cheese, butter, milk, salt, and pepper in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat until cheese is melted.
  • 3. Add pasta and bacon to cheese mixture.
  • 4. Pour into a large casserole dish that has been prepared with vegetable spray. Sprinkle bread crumbs evenly over pasta.
  • 5. Bake for about 30 minutes or until bubbly.
  • 6. Let stand for about 10 minutes.

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