• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • Bio
    • Work With Me
    • Disclosure
    • Press and Recognition
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Roundups
    • Top 10
    • Holiday
  • Travel
    • Tips
    • Things To Do
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
  • Fun
    • Gift Ideas
    • Pets
    • Military
    • Parties
    • Disney
    • Crafts
    • Printables
  • Parenting
    • Ava and Stella
    • Breastfeeding
    • Pregnancy
  • Cooking Videos
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

For the Love of Food

Crunchy Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

December 30, 2012 Leave a Comment

661 shares
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
 
For years, I have tried to create a recipe for the perfect Macaroni and Cheese. Well, finally my friends, I did it! This recipe is creamy, cheesy, crunchy, and savory! Everything you want in the perfect Mac and Cheese. I made it for our holiday party and then again for Christmas dinner and it was a hit everyone: kids and adults. Hope you enjoy as much as we did! 
This recipe feeds a lot! Great for parties, potlucks, or family gatherings! 
Print Recipe

Crunchy Bacon Mac and Cheese

About 12-14 servings.

Ingredients

  • 16 oz. macaroni pasta
  • 6 tablespoons butter plus 4 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 5 cups milk
  • 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mixed cheese I used Mexican style
  • 8 slices bacon add a spicy kick with peppered bacon
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs

Instructions

  • Boil the pasta according to package directions. Drain and return to the pan you boiled it in.    Set aside.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • Over medium heat, melt the 6 tablespoons butter.
  • Add the flour,
  • salt, dry mustard, pepper, and paprika. Stir
  • constantly over medium heat for about three minutes.
  • Stir in the milk.
  • Keeping on medium heat, whisk constantly for about 10 minutes, until the sauce thickens.
  • While the sauce cooks, cook the bacon until crisp. Drain and chop into small pieces.  Set aside.
  • Remove from heat, and stir in 4 cups of the cheese, stirring until melted.
  • Pour the cheese sauce over the noodles and toss gently until all noodles are covered.
  • Add the noodles to a large casserole dish, about 9X13.
  • Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on pasta, then cover with bacon crumbles.
  • Bake for about 25 minutes, until it is bubbly and lightly browned. Remove from oven and turn on broiler to low.
  • In a small bowl mix panko and the 4 tablespoons melted butter.
  • Sprinkle topping over mac and cheese and broil until the panko is browned  and crunchy, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and enjoy!
Did you make this Recipe?Tag @flchefnicole or hashtag #fortheloveoffoodblog
Lots of cheese and milk make this delicious gooey sauce.
Cook the pasta until al dente, according to the package.
 

Bacon makes everything better!
Make the crunchy panko topping by mixing melted butter and 1 cup panko together 
then sprinkling it on top. To get the golden brown color make sure you put the Mac and Cheese under the broiler for a few minutes after it is done cooking.
Take the Mac and Cheese out of the oven and add the panko topping.
Cook under the broiler for 2-3 minutes or until golden.
 
Perfect! Crunchy, Cheesy, and Delicious!
Grab a fork and enjoy!
 

661 shares

Filed Under: Bacon, Holiday, Side Dishes Tagged With: mac and cheese, macaroni, side dish

Previous Post: « Festive Christmas Party Punch
Next Post: My Top 10 Recipes of 2012 »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Follow Me

PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket

Photobucket

My Family


Nicole with her husband Ashton and daughters Ava and Stella

Search My Blog!

Fun On Instagram

Open
✨️ Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s “Listening Forest" at @crystalbridgesmuseum was one of our favorite family activities since moving to Arkansas! 

All the interactive exhibits are controlled by your heart rate, body, voice, and movements. It was such a cool, mesmerizing experience! ✨️
...
#gifted #crystalbridges #Bentonville #listeningforest #rafaellozanohemmer #nwarkansas #artexhibition #exploremore #thingstodoinnwa #artmuseum
Open
Excited for the Caffeine Crawl experience today! Starting at @boldercoffee then on to @redkitecoffeeco , @two11cafe , @markhamandfitzchoc , and finally @onyxcoffeelab ! Ready to get caffeinated! ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️ @caffeinecrawl #caffeinecrawl #nwaarkansas #coffee #drinklocal
Open
The end of the school year is here and we're making our annual gifts for classmates and friends. This year we have a fun and super easy gift idea: Pop Rocks! I've included two printable gift tags to simply cut out and tape onto individual treats. Easy peasy and you've got a fun themed gift kids will love!
🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
https://www.4theloveoffoodblog.com/end-of-school-year-pop-rocks-gift-tags/
...
#fortheloveoffoodblog #schoolgifts #poprocks #printable #giftidea #schooldays #kidsgifts
Open
🎉 Woohoo! It's the end of the school year! Do you need new ideas for school themed gifts to give? This roundup features over 45 creative DIY Gifts for Teachers and Classmates for you and your kids to make at home. #schoolgifts #lastdayofschool #schooldays #diygifts #teachergifts #fortheloveoffoodblog
🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁
https://www.4theloveoffoodblog.com/45-end-of-school-year-diy-gifts-for-teachers-and-classmates/
Open
My oldest child graduated from elementary school today and I AM NOT OK. So very proud and excited for her but these tears will not stop flowing! How did my baby girl grow up so fast?! #schooldays #middleschoolherewecome  #elementarygraduation #makingmemories #mamasgirl
Open
🌳 ✨️NWA Must See : Listening Forest by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. 
My family and I had the pleasure of experiencing this nighttime interactive exhibit at @crystalbridgesmuseum last week. It was unlike anything we have ever done before and we spent two fun filled hours exploring the lighted forest and all the lights, music, sculptures, and sounds within. Hands down one of the best experiences we have had so far in Arkansas! 
...
#gifted #crystalbridges #Bentonville #listeningforest #rafaellozanohemmer #nwarkansas #artexhibition #exploremore #thingstodoinnwa #artmuseum
Open
Enjoying a solo Hallmark movie night to end a rough week. I love reading the Hannah Swensen series by @authorjoannefluke and I am excited to watch the newest @hallmarkchannel movie inspired by the novels! 
📚🎬📚🎬📚🎬📚🎬
#momlife #hallmarkchannel #teatime #carrotcakemurder #latenight #hannahswensenmysteries #joannefluke #murdermystery #Hallmark #movienight #muglife #currentlywatching #foodie
Open
It's #WhatchaReadingWednesday (a day late, whoops!). I was so excited to find this Choose Your Own Adventure book at @samsclub and it's a #StrangerThings story! I loved these books growing up and I am super excited they are making a comeback. This easy read is perfect for throwing in your bag and picking up anytime you have a break and want to read a chapter or two of a story. Super excited to read this one and you know I plan of reading all 25 endings! ✨️
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
#currentlyreading #bookstagram #booklover #bookworm #romance #read #bookish #instabook #booknerd #bookaddict #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookphotography #booksofinstagram #booklove  #chooseyourownadventure #oldschool #backintheday #strangerthingsfan #Netflix
Open
Ava and I attended the DIY Mother's Day spa gift class last month at @rplark . I love crafting with my girl! So grateful that our local library offers these fun and free classes! #MothersDay2023 #momandme #diy #spagifts #librarylove #rogersar
Follow on Instagram

Popular Posts

Crock-Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham

Crock-Pot Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham for the Holidays

Chef Salad on a Stick

Crock-Pot Rotisserie Chicken

Crock-Pot Rotisserie Style Chicken

Biscuit and Gravy Casserole

Biscuit and Sausage Gravy Casserole

Duck Dynasty Potatoes

Duck Dynasty Mashed Potato Casserole

Guy Fieri’s Chunky New England Clam Chowder

Subscribe via Email

Proud Military Wife

Archives

Footer

The Best of Breakfast and Brunch

Communities

 

© 2023 NICOLE HOOD FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD " Privacy Policy

DMCA.com Protection Status