Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon
Description
Bacon makes just about everything better, so why not add it to homemade mac and cheese? Top it off with panko bread crumbs and you have a winning main dish or a side dish.
Ingredients
6 slices bacon, chopped and cooked
1/2 c. Panko breadcrumbs
1 lb. macaroni pasta, cooked according to package directions
5 T. butter
1/3 c. flour
3 1/2 c. milk
salt and black pepper, to taste
1/4 c. freshly shredded Parmesan cheese, not packaged*
1 c. freshly shredded Gruyere cheese
1 c. freshly shredded Cheddar cheese, not package*
Directions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a large 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
In a large non-stick skillet, cook chopped bacon over medium heat 5-8 minutes until it starts to turn golden; add bread crumbs to bacon; let brown a bit; stir well; remove from heat; set aside.
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; when butter has melted, whisk in flour; cook for 1 minute; add salt and pepper, to taste. Slowly whisk in milk until sauce is smooth. Bring to a simmer; turn heat to low; cook for 5 minutes, whisking occasionally until sauce has thickened.
Add cheeses to sauce; season with more salt and pepper, to taste; stir; cook for a few minutes until cheese is fully melted.
Add pasta to sauce; stir until coated. Pour macaroni into prepared baking dish.
Sprinkle bacon and bread crumb mixture over macaroni.
Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.
6 servings.
*If you want your mac and cheese to be the best that it can be, shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese in a bag in NOT recommended.