Bacon Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese

Bacon Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese

from carriesexperimentalkitchen.com
30 min
8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pasta ((gemelli, macaroni, penne, etc))
  • 8 slices diced bacon
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 3 cups milk
  • 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
  • 2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
  • 4 tablespoons butter (,melted)

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

  2. 2

    Bring a large pot of water to a boil; then cook your pasta 'al dente'; leaving it a little undercooked as it will finish cooking in the cheese sauce while baking. Drain the water and place back into the pot.

  3. 3

    While the pasta is cooking, prepare your cheese sauce. Render the pieces of cut bacon in a medium sauce pan; then add flour to form a roux.

  4. 4

    Next, add milk and your cheese and stir until smooth over a low heat.

  5. 5

    Make your topping. I used a combination of club crackers and melted butter, but you can use your favorite type of breadcrumb or crackers.

  6. 6

    Finally, add the cheese sauce to the pasta and mix well. Place your pasta into a casserole dish (I used 13x9) and place the breading mixture on top.

  7. 7

    Bake for about 15 minutes or until the topping is light brown and the pasta is bubbling on the sides.