Bacon Jalapeño Macaroni and Cheese

Bacon Jalapeño Macaroni and Cheese

from butteryourbiscuit.com
40 min
6 servings

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces pasta
  • 1/2 lb bacon, I used Cherry wood smoked bacon
  • 1-2 jalapenos diced
  • 3 tablespoon butter
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 3 cups half n half
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup pepper jack cheese
  • 1 cup Mozzarella cheese
  • 1-2 teaspoon Salt according to taste
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3/4 cup Panko bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup shredded parmesan
  • 3 tablespoons butter melted

Directions

  1. 1

    Cook pasta 2 minutes under al dente. (It will cook more in the oven) strain and set aside.

  2. 2

    In a small bowl with melted butter add Panko crumbs, parmesan cheese, and butter mix and set aside.

  3. 3

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees

  4. 4

    Chop raw bacon up into bite-size pieces. Heat a skillet on medium-high heat and cook bacon until crispy and let drain on paper towels.

  5. 5

    In the same cast-iron skillet, drain all but 3 tablespoons of bacon fat. Add butter, diced jalapeno, and cook just until soft about 1 minute. Add flour and whisk together for about 30 seconds to cook the flour a bit. Reduce heat and add half n half and whisk until all clumps are out.

  6. 6

    Turn off heat and add shredded cheese and cooked bacon and whisk until combined. Add cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and mix. Add salt and pepper to taste.

  7. 7

    Pour mac n cheese into a baking dish, or leave in cast iron skillet fold in mozzarella cheese and top with Panko crumbs.

  8. 8

    Bake for 20 minutes