Never Think About What to Make for Dinner for the Next Two Months with My Lazy Cooking Bundle
Classic comfort food at it’s best, this recipe for bacon mac and cheese is a cheesy, creamy meal your family will devour! Baked in the oven from scratch, it’s loaded with extra cheese and tender noodles — and with plenty of bacon, of course.
Want more recipes for your family to enjoy? This chili will hit the spot. Or try our crockpot mac and cheese, it’s another favorite. Grandma’s goulash recipe, this simple lasagna recipe, or cheesy biscuits with chicken noodle soup are more amazing ideas.
Bacon Mac and Cheese Ingredients
You will need:
Sauce:
• 3 Tablespoons flour
• 3 Tablespoons butter
• 2 cups of milk
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Casserole:
• 1 Package Applewood Smoked Bacon, 16 oz., cooked and crumbled, divided
• 1 16 ounce box elbow macaroni pasta, cooked according to package
• 8-ounce block parmesan cheese, divided
• 8-ounce block mild cheddar cheese, divided
• 8-ounce block mozzarella cheese, divided
Topping:
• 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
• 1 Tablespoon melted butter
What Can Be Added to Macaroni and Cheese?
Today we’re talking about baked mac and cheese with bacon. But this is a versatile dish with a ton of possibilities. It can really be tailored to your family’s taste and preferences.
Obviously, we are all about the bacon. You could also add in chicken or lobster.
You can give macaroni and cheese a spicy, grown-up kick with jalapeno or onion as well. I love adding extra garlic to it as well. I don’t think there is such a thing as too much garlic. 😉 You could also try using white pepper for an extra kick!
You could also experiment with different types of fresh, gourmet cheese: Gouda, white cheddar, mozzarella, sharp cheddar, goat, or Parmesan. A dollop of cream cheese can help make this casserole the creamiest you’ve ever tasted.
My youngest son is obsessed with ranch dressing and pours it on everything, including his baked mac and cheese with bacon.
The panko breadcrumbs baked on top of this recipe help give it a satisfying, crispy topping that you’ll want to devour it’s so amazing.
How to Make Bacon Mac and Cheese
We’re taking it beyond plain noodles today with this bacon mac and cheese. I love how simple this traditional comfort food is to make. It’s even better to eat!
Loaded with extra cheese, this casserole is perfect for a quick weeknight family meal or to take along to a potluck.
Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees.
Next, grate the blocks of Parmesan, mild cheddar, and mozzarella cheeses and place in a large bowl. Mix to combine and then set aside.
Reserve 1.5 cups of the cheese mixture for the roux.
In a medium saucepan, melt 3 Tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Whisk in 3 Tablespoons of flour.
Slowly add 2 cups of milk to the saucepan, stirring constantly. Add the garlic powder, salt, and pepper and continue stirring until smooth.
Reduce the heat to low and whisk periodically until the sauce has thickened.
Add the reserved 1 1/2 cups of the grated cheese mixture. Stir until melted and smooth.
Remove from heat. Fold in the cooked macaroni pasta until well coated in the cheese sauce.
Next, coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Pour the macaroni and cheese sauce mixture into the pan.
Spread the remaining grated cheese mixture over the macaroni. Reserve and set aside 1/4 cup bacon crumbles. Spread the remaining bacon evenly over the cheese.
In a small bowl, melt 1 Tablespoon of butter. Add 1/2 cup of Panko bread crumbs and 1/4 cup of the reserved bacon. Stir to combine. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the macaroni and cheese.
How to Bake
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
What Should You Serve with Macaroni and Cheese?
Our kids love dinner rolls and fresh veggies with their mac and cheese.
You could also serve with steamed carrots, steamed broccoli, fresh fruit or a salad.
This comforting recipe is the cheesiest and I love that everything is in one dish, making it easy to get on the table and serve with a fast side dish for a great meal.
How to Reheat Bacon Mac and Cheese
We don’t always have leftovers at our house, but if you do, reheating is easy.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and cover your casserole dish with tin foil. Bake for 20 minutes until the pasta is heated through and the cheese is melted again.
You can add a little milk in the bottom of your dish, or extra cheese and breadcrumbs on top if you’d like!
I’m sure your family will love this homemade bacon mac and cheese as much as we do – be sure to try it soon! You’ll love this delicious, old-fashioned dinner idea.
More Amazing Homemade Recipes to Try:
- The Best Meatloaf Recipe
- Oven Beef Stew
- Spaghetti Pie
- Rolled Tacos
- Easy Lasagna Casserole
- Baked Ziti with Chicken
Pair this recipe with:
Bacon Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
Roux:
- 3 Tablespoons flour
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 2 cups milk
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Casserole:
- 1 Package Applewood Smoked Bacon 16 oz., cooked and crumbled, divided
- 1 16 ounce box elbow macaroni pasta cooked according to package
- 8 ounce block parmesan cheese divided
- 8 ounce block mild cheddar cheese divided
- 8 ounce block mozzarella cheese divided
Topping:
- 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 Tablespoon melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Grate the blocks of parmesan, mild cheddar, and mozzarella cheeses and place in a large bowl. Mix to combine and set aside. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the cheese mixture for the roux.
- In a medium saucepan, melt 3 Tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Whisk in 3 Tablespoons of flour.
- Slowly add 2 cups of milk to the saucepan, stirring constantly. Add the garlic powder, salt, and pepper and continue stirring until smooth.
- Reduce the heat to low and whisk periodically until the sauce has thickened.
- Add the reserved 1 1/2 cups of the grated cheese mixture. Stir until melted and smooth.
- Remove from heat. Fold in the cooked macaroni pasta until well coated in the cheese sauce.
- Next, coat a 9x13 inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Pour the macaroni and cheese sauce mixture into the pan.
- Spread the remaining grated cheese mixture over the macaroni. Reserve and set aside 1/4 cup bacon crumbles. Spread the remaining bacon evenly over the cheese.
- In a small bowl, melt 1 Tablespoon of butter. Add 1/2 cup of Panko bread crumbs and 1/4 cup of the reserved bacon. Stir to combine. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the macaroni and cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Fantastic flavors and a fav in our household plus the leftovers are great for school lunches.
Seriously, my two favorite things. Bacon and mac n cheese. You cannot go wrong.
Can I prepare this early and leave in fridge until ready to bake? Or will the breadcrumbs become soggy?
I would probably leave off the breadcrumbs until you’re ready to bake if you’re preparing it several hours early. Enjoy! 🙂