Bacon macaroni and cheese is a comforting and flavorful dish that has become a staple in many households. This classic combination of creamy macaroni, melted cheese, crispy bacon, and a hint of spices creates a symphony of flavors that satisfies every taste bud. Whether you are craving a warm and cozy meal on a cold winter night or looking for a crowd-pleasing dish to serve at your next potluck, bacon macaroni and cheese is sure to deliver. With its ease of preparation and endless variations, this versatile recipe is a must-try for any home cook.
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BACON MACARONI AND CHEESE
Crisp bacon and Gouda instantly infuse the classic comfort-food dish with rich, smoky flavor. The best part? Everything is made in one pot. Try our four delicious variations next: Classic Mac, Mushroom-Fontina Mac, Jalapeno Mac, and Primavera Mac.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Pork Recipes
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cook bacon until crisp. Remove from skillet and crumble (discard bacon fat).
- Heat broiler. In a large straight-sided, oven-safe skillet, melt butter. Remove 1 tablespoon butter and combine with breadcrumbs and Parmesan.
- Whisk in flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Very gradually whisk in milk and bring to a simmer. Add macaroni and cook, stirring constantly and scraping bottom of pan, until tender, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in remaining cheese and the bacon and mustard, and season with salt and pepper. Top with breadcrumb mixture and broil until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 673 g, Fat 36 g, Fiber 3 g, Protein 34 g, SaturatedFat 20 g
BACON, LEEK, AND TOMATO MACARONI AND CHEESE
Surprising twist to a family classic! White cheese, bacon, and leeks. Yes, leeks--a less tangy onion! And this is a one-pot meal! No draining of the water. Super fun, quick, easy, and yummy!
Provided by dawn2376
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork
Time 35m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Bring water to a boil in an 8-quart stockpot.
- Meanwhile, place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain bacon on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Add macaroni, Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper to the boiling water. Cover and let simmer vigorously for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While the macaroni mixture cooks, trim dark green parts off leek and discard. Slice leek in half lengthwise, then crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. Place in a bowl of cold water and swish to remove dirt. Drain leek and stir into the macaroni mixture.
- Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until macaroni is tender and sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cut tomatoes in half lengthwise. Remove cores and scrape out seeds. Dice tomatoes; reserve 1/4 cup for garnish. Remove stockpot from heat; stir in remaining tomatoes and 1/2 of the bacon. Spoon macaroni into a serving bowl and garnish with remaining bacon and reserved tomatoes. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 641.7 calories, Carbohydrate 62.5 g, Cholesterol 85.6 mg, Fat 29.3 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 31.1 g, SaturatedFat 16.3 g, Sodium 1964.9 mg, Sugar 4.3 g
BACON AND TOMATO MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is one of my family's choice meals. I have even taught my 11-year-old daughter to make it. Awesome for busy weeknights and when you have your kid's friends over. If you prefer it meatier add more bacon.
Provided by Lindy
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork
Time 55m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Cook and stir bacon and onions in a skillet over medium heat until bacon is crisp and onions are softened, 10 to 15 minutes. Add tomatoes to skillet; cook and stir until liquid is evaporated, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain and return pasta to pot.
- Preheat oven to 355 degrees F (180 degrees C).
- Stir 3 cups Cheddar cheese into the tomato mixture until cheese is melted and sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Mix sauce into pasta. Pour pasta mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish and top with remaining Cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is golden brown and crisp, about 15 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 603.7 calories, Carbohydrate 50.3 g, Cholesterol 88.9 mg, Fat 29.8 g, Fiber 3.5 g, Protein 32.9 g, SaturatedFat 16.1 g, Sodium 878 mg, Sugar 6 g
BEER AND BACON MACARONI AND CHEESE
We put a creative spin on classic mac and cheese by adding our favorite beer and bacon. Six tests later, we are happy. -Cindy Worth, Lapwai, Idaho
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 40m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°. Cook macaroni according to package directions for al dente; drain. , Meanwhile, in a 10-in. cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels. In the same pan, add garlic; cook and stir 30 seconds. Stir in flour until blended; gradually whisk in milk and beer. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook until thickened, 2-3 minutes. Stir in cheeses until blended. Add macaroni, green onions, salt, pepper and half the bacon; stir to combine. Bake, uncovered, until bubbly, 15-20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining bacon and additional green onions. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 398 calories, Fat 23g fat (11g saturated fat), Cholesterol 52mg cholesterol, Sodium 767mg sodium, Carbohydrate 28g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 19g protein.
MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH MUSHROOMS AND BACON
Provided by Stuart Faber
Categories Mushroom Pasta Side Bake Cheddar Bacon Winter Bon Appétit Los Angeles California
Yield Makes 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain.
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large pot over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and onion; sauté until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour, mustard, salt, and pepper; cook 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook until sauce is smooth and slightly thickened, whisking constantly, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Add cheese and parsley; stir until cheese melts. Mix in pasta.
- Sauté bacon in medium skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Mix half of bacon into pasta and transfer to prepared dish. Sprinkle with remaining bacon.
- Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs; sauté until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle breadcrumbs over pasta. Bake until pasta is heated through and golden brown, about 20 minutes.
MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH BACON
This is an old recipe in my family - very quick and easy. It's macaroni 'n cheese with a bacon/tomato twist.
Provided by Melissa Smith
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork
Time 50m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Stir in the rotini, and return to a boil. Cook until the pasta is slightly under-cooked, about 8 minutes. Drain well.
- Combine the processed cheese, tomato juice, and butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until melted and smooth. Mix the pasta into the cheese sauce; stir well. Transfer macaroni and cheese to the prepared baking dish. Top with the raw bacon slices.
- Bake in preheated oven until the bacon is cooked and crisped, about 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 477.8 calories, Carbohydrate 33.2 g, Cholesterol 65.8 mg, Fat 30.9 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 16.5 g, SaturatedFat 13.8 g, Sodium 925.9 mg, Sugar 5.2 g
LOBSTER-BACON MACARONI AND CHEESE
I've tried several variations of this recipe and this is by far my favorite. The creaminess of the cheese soup, the pungent flavor of the lobster, and smokiness of the bacon blend together in a lovely dish you can serve on a busy weeknight or at your next dinner party.
Provided by Kit0331
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork
Time 1h
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain.
- Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on paper towels and dice.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Stir Cheddar cheese soup, Cheddar cheese, and milk together in a bowl. Stir pasta, bacon, and lobster into soup mixture. Pour pasta mixture into a 2 1/2-quart shallow baking dish.
- Mix bread crumbs and butter together in a separate bowl; sprinkle over pasta mixture.
- Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling and bread crumbs are lightly browned, 25 to 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 627.2 calories, Carbohydrate 61 g, Cholesterol 108.5 mg, Fat 27.5 g, Fiber 2.5 g, Protein 33.4 g, SaturatedFat 14.7 g, Sodium 1466.5 mg, Sugar 5.6 g
MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH BACON AND ONIONS
Macaroni and cheese is perfect supper food. It's a kids' favorite, and adults like it too. My recipe is simple and almost as quick as the boxed variety. Try this variation with bacon and caramelized onions.
Provided by Ben S.
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Follow the recipe for Creamy Macaroni and Cheese using Vermont white cheddar.
- Fry bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Pour off all but 3 tablespoons of bacon drippings. Add onions and thyme; saute until soft and golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir bacon and onions into macaroni. Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 41.5 calories, Carbohydrate 2.4 g, Cholesterol 6.7 mg, Fat 2.7 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 2.1 g, SaturatedFat 0.9 g, Sodium 130.5 mg, Sugar 1.1 g
BACON MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH BÉCHAMEL SAUCE AND CHEDDAR FRENCH FRIED ONION CRUST RECIPE
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter or spray a 3-quart glass or ceramic baking dish with non-stick spray. To make the Béchamel Sauce, melt the TWISTED Bacon, Dijon Mustard & Green Onion Butter in a medium saucepan and stir in the flour. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly for 3 minutes. Slowly add the heated milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 4 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Remove from heat and add salt, pepper, parmesan and Tabasco. Stir until the cheese in melted. Cover and set aside. Cook the bacon until just crispy and set aside to cool. Boil a large pot of water; add 1 tsp salt and the macaroni. Cook for approximately 5 minutes until the macaroni is very al dente. Drain the noodles and return to the pot. Immediately add the butter, garlic and Béchamel Sauce. Toss well. Place 1/3 of the macaroni in the baking dish. Evenly top with 1/3 of the shredded cheddar, 1/3 of the Velveeta and 3 slices of bacon broken into small pieces. Repeat until all noodles, bacon and cheese are in the pan. Top with the crushed French fried onions. Bake for 35 - 45 minutes or until the top is beginning to brown. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving
SPICY SMOKY MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH TURKEY BACON
This is my favorite macaroni and cheese recipe. You can adjust the amounts of paprika, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper to suit your tastes. I like spicy food so the recipe as it is written is spicy.
Provided by PureIce23
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 45m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring a large pot with lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Stir in the shell pasta and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 13 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
- While the pasta is cooking, place the turkey bacon strips between two paper towels on a microwave-safe plate. Cook in the microwave on High until the bacon is crispy, 4 to 6 minutes depending on the microwave. Allow the bacon to cool; crumble and set aside.
- Once the pasta has cooked and is draining, combine the processed cheese, cream, and half-and-half in the pot that was used to cook the pasta. Cook and stir over medium heat until the cheese has melted and the sauce is bubbly. Remove from the heat; stir in the paprika, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and crumbled turkey bacon. Stir the cooked pasta into the sauce until evenly coated.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 747.3 calories, Carbohydrate 64 g, Cholesterol 143.5 mg, Fat 41.4 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 32 g, SaturatedFat 21 g, Sodium 1555.3 mg, Sugar 9.9 g
CHRISTINA'S BAKIN' BACON MACARONI AND CHEESE
Provided by Food Network
Time 1h5m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the macaroni until just tender, about 8 minutes. Strain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat the butter and half-and-half in a large saucepan over medium heat. Reserve 5 American cheese slices; tear the rest into pieces and add to the saucepan, along with the cream cheese, and gouda. Cook, stirring often , until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth.
- Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream. Stir in the eggs slowly. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Stir in the macaroni and ham. Scrape the mixture into a 2-quart baking dish and top with the remaining 5 American cheese slices.
- Cook the bacon. Remove from pan and reserve the drippings. Add the bread crumbs to the pan with the drippings and stir. Crumble the bacon into the bread crumb mixture. Pour the bread crumb mixture evenly over the macaroni and cheese. Sprinkle the paprika over the macaroni and cheese. Cover the dish with a lid or aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until top is browned about 10 minutes more. Let cool slightly before serving.
MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND BACON
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
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
CANADIAN BACON MACARONI AND CHEESE
Macaroni and cheese mixed with tomatoes and Canadian bacon. Cheesy, eh?!
Provided by Roxy
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork
Time 45m
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
- While macaroni is boiling, fry bacon and place on paper towels to drain. Cut into bite size pieces.
- Melt margarine in a large saucepan over medium low heat. Stir in flour, then tomatoes and wait for sauce to thicken, stirring occasionally. When thickness is to your liking, stir in cheese until it has melted. Stir in cooked macaroni and bacon and heat through. Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 668.5 calories, Carbohydrate 54.1 g, Cholesterol 85.4 mg, Fat 34.6 g, Fiber 3.8 g, Protein 34.6 g, SaturatedFat 15.3 g, Sodium 1343.8 mg, Sugar 4 g
CREAMY INSTANT POT® BACON MACARONI AND CHEESE
Macaroni and cheese is so easy to cook in the pressure cooker that you won't want to make the boxed stuff again! This creamy recipe is a delicious basic pressure cooker mac and cheese with bacon. Feel free to use it as a starting point for a customized mac and cheese using different cheeses and add-ins.
Provided by fabeveryday
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork
Time 35m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Combine water, macaroni, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper in a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®); stir until well combined. Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 6 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
- Release pressure carefully using the quick-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid.
- Stir in milk, Cheddar, and Gouda gradually, alternating between a little of the milk and a handful of cheese at a time. Stir until the cheeses are melted. Stir in crumbled bacon and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 448.5 calories, Carbohydrate 44 g, Cholesterol 61 mg, Fat 19.5 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 23 g, SaturatedFat 10.6 g, Sodium 719.9 mg, Sugar 3.1 g
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the macaroni and cheese will be. Use a good quality pasta, sharp cheddar cheese, and real bacon.
- Don't overcook the pasta: Cook the pasta according to the package directions, or slightly al dente. Overcooked pasta will make the macaroni and cheese mushy.
- Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken the sauce. This will help to keep the macaroni and cheese smooth and creamy.
- Use a variety of cheeses: Don't just use cheddar cheese. Try using a combination of cheeses, such as cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan. This will give the macaroni and cheese a more complex flavor.
- Add some mix-ins: Feel free to add some mix-ins to your macaroni and cheese, such as cooked bacon, diced ham, or chopped vegetables. This will give the dish a more interesting flavor and texture.
- Bake until bubbly: Bake the macaroni and cheese until it is bubbly and golden brown. This will help to ensure that the cheese is melted and gooey.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a simple dish to make, but there are a few tips and tricks that can help you make the best macaroni and cheese possible. By following these tips, you can create a macaroni and cheese that is creamy, cheesy, and delicious.
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