Stovetop Bacon Mac and Cheese
Ditch the box of macaroni and cheese and make a cheesy side on the stovetop with this Bacon Mac and Cheese recipe. It’s simple, flavorful, and perfect to serve with some of your favorite entrees, such as chicken and pork!
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If you’re a macaroni and cheese lover, but you don’t want to spend a lot of time preparing baked mac and cheese, try this stovetop recipe for Bacon Mac and Cheese. It’s gooey, cheesy, and has an incredible flavor from the cheeses and the bacon that you’ll add to the mix.
It’s an excellent side to serve with some of your favorite meats and veggies. It pairs perfectly with fried chicken, baked chicken, grilled pork chops, and even meatloaf!
Why You Should Make the Bacon Mac and Cheese
- You won’t need to turn the oven on for this homemade macaroni and cheese. It’s easy enough to prepare on the stovetop.
- The homemade Bacon Mac and Cheese taste much better than any boxed options that you’ve tried in the past.
- You can always customize this recipe to your liking by using some of your favorite cheese blends and seasonings, including black pepper and paprika.
- Creamy Macaroni & Cheese is the ultimate comfort food. The easy comfort food recipe is perfect any time of the year.
Do I have to use elbow macaroni when making the Bacon Mac and Cheese?
No, you don’t have to use elbow macaroni if you don’t have it available or don’t like it. Instead, you can use any of your favorite kinds of pasta, such as spaghetti, rotini, or even small shells. It depends on what you like to use.
Why do I need to use flour in this homemade mac & cheese recipe?
You’ll use the flour to create a roux that you can add to your macaroni noodles. The roux sticks perfectly to the noodles, ensuring that each one has that perfectly cheesy consistency that you desire.
Do I have to use the same cheeses in this recipe?
While these cheese blends taste great together, you can improvise by substituting some of them with your favorite cheeses. For example, instead of using white cheddar cheese, you can use white sharp cheddar cheese for a bolder flavor. You can also use what you have available at home. Don’t hesitate to mix things up a bit to customize the taste of these delicious Bacon Mac and Cheese.
Do I need to add any salt to the cheese sauce?
Yes, you can add salt to the cheese sauce. However, you won’t need too much of it if you’re putting a lot of salt in the water when boiling your macaroni noodles. You don’t want to overdo it with the salt and create a salty taste, so be sure to taste test your macaroni and cheese before you add extra salt to it.
What should I do if the sauce is a bit too thick?
Reserve some of the pasta water when you’ve finished boiling the pasta. If the sauce is a bit too thick, you can thin it out by pouring some of the pasta water into the mix. It works like a charm and will keep the Bacon Mac and Cheese flavorful.
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Bacon Mac and Cheese
Ditch the box of macaroni and cheese and make a cheesy side on the stovetop with this Bacon Mac and Cheese recipe. It’s simple, flavorful, and perfect to serve with some of your favorite entrees, such as chicken and pork!
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni or pasta of choice 3-4 slices of bacon
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded white cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Prepare pasta water by generously salting the water and bringing to a roaring boil.
- Cook pasta until al dente. About 10-15 mins.
- While the pasta is cooking, fry bacon in skillet and pour off the grease but do not wash the pan.
- Return to hear and melt butter in the skillet, add flour and stir.
- We want to cook down the flour in order to create a roux for our béchamel or cheese sauce.
- Whisk in the cream and milk when it starts to bubble add in the cheeses and seasonings
- Cook the cheese sauce until thick and add pre-cooked noodles to the mixture.
- Reduce heat, add in chopped crispy bacon and slowly incorporate the noodles and cheese sauce Serve while hot.
Notes
- Large skillet or cast iron skillet.
- Wooden spoon
- Large heavy bottom pot