Baked Bacon Mac and Cheese

Get ready for the ultimate comfort food: Baked Bacon Mac and Cheese! This baked pasta is creamy, cheesy, and so delicious. Featuring crispy bacon, this dish is sure to impress even the pickiest of eaters!

📝 Ingredients

• 12 oz macaroni elbows
• 3 tbsp butter (plus extra for buttering the dish)
• 3 tbsp flour
• 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup whole milk
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp dry mustard
• pinch of cayenne pepper
• pinch of ground nutmeg
• cracked black pepper (to taste)
• 8 oz shredded cheese (see notes)
• salt (to taste)
• 8 slices of bacon (cooked until crispy and chopped)
• 4 tbsp panko breadcrumbs

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Preheat the oven to 375 and cook the macaroni elbows as per the packet instructions in boiling salted water until just about al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. 2Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Once it is frothy, whisk in the flour. Cook for a few minutes, still whisking so that the sauce won't taste of raw flour.
3. 3Gradually whisk in the chicken broth until you have a smooth sauce. Whisk in the milk and raise the temperature to a medium high heat. Continue to cook, whisking often until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
4. 4Whisk in the heavy cream, garlic powder, dry mustard, cayenne and nutmeg before seasoning to taste with black pepper.
5. 5Remove the white sauce from the heat and stir in 2/3 of the cheese, along with the bacon pieces and the cooked macaroni. Season to taste with salt and a little more pepper, if needed.
6. 6Transfer the macaroni to a butter baking dish and top with the rest of the cheese, followed by the breadcrumbs.
7. 7Bake for 20-25 minutes until the macaroni is bubbly and golden. Leave to rest for 10 minutes before serving.