Bacon Mac n' Cheese
Course:
Lunch, Dinner
Cuisine:
American
INGREDIENTS:
- Butter (2 tbsp.)
- Flour (2 tbsp.)
- Whole Milk (1 cup)
- Grated Cheese (1 1/2 cups)
- Paprika (1/4 teaspoon)
- Mustard (small squirt)
- Nutmeg (a pinch)
- Salt & Pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS:
For Sauce
- Preheat oven to 350° and grease an 8" x 8" baking dish.
- Boil the elbow macaroni for 7 minutes or until al dente, drain and set aside.
- Cut the already cooked bacon into manageable pieces .
- Heat the milk in a saucepan until hot, but do not allow it to boil.
- In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter and then add the flour, whisking until combined.
- Gradually add the heated milk, whisking constantly until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy. You may need to add additional milk or water if it becomes too thick.
- Add in the shredded cheese and mix until fully incorporated.
- Stir in the salt, pepper, nutmeg and mix well.
For Mac N' Cheese
- Start a layer of the cooked macaroni in the baking dish and ladle cheese sauce covering it completely.
- Add a layer of bacon pieces, and then another layer of macaroni.
- Add a few pieces of bacon on top (for visual appeal) of the last layer of pasta and then cover with the remaining cheese sauce.
- Sprinkle the Italian bread crumbs on top of the finished mixture and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
- For the last 5 minutes turn on the broiler to add color to the top.