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Bacon mac and cheese

Whip up some melty, gooey, cheesy goodness!

a skillet of bacon macaroni and cheese
Mac and cheese is one of those classic, soulful comfort foods that we all know and love — and with good reason! It’s richly satisfying, feel-good flavors never fail to fill the belly and warm the heart. In honor of this home-cooked favorite, we’re adding an adult spin to the traditional recipe by tossing in another beloved ingredient: bacon! Our Bacon Mac and Cheese will surely satisfy even the most die-hard mac and cheese fans. With a smoky bite of crisp and salty bacon on top, this recipe is a holiday-time comfort food that will have everyone helping themselves to a second serving or two. Like any fine cheese, our recipe undoubtedly calls for a fabulous wine pairing. Sutter Home Merlot does just the trick, with ripe berry flavors that meld beautifully with the richness of the bacon and cheese.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 1 – 12-ounce package of thick cut bacon cut into ½ in squares
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 pound of macaroni noodle
  • 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup of panko bread crumbs

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. In a skillet cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon but do not empty grease from skillet. Lower heat to a simmer and melt butter in the skillet. Add flour while constantly whisking for 1 minute. Then, whisk in milk and 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Whisk often until glossy sauce forms. Add salt and pepper and remove from heat.
  3. Add uncooked pasta, cooked bacon and 1 ½ cup cheese in a casserole dish. Pour in sauce (pasta should be covered with sauce). Cover dish with foil and bake for 20 mins.
  4. Toss panko, salt and pepper in a bowl. Remove foil from dish and sprinkle with panko mixture and remaining cheese. Bake for another 10 mins or until top is golden brown and crispy.
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