You would think this first challenge would be as easy as Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Wrong! With all the wonderful food blogs out there, I spent hours drooling over pictures, wondering just how unhealthy it would be if I ate homemade macaroni and cheese every day for a month. After changing my mind several times, I finally decided on this recipe posted by Recipe Girl.
What drew me to this recipe was first and foremost: bacon. Additionally I was intrigued by the use of herb & garlic flavored goat cheese and the spicy kick the red pepper flakes would give. I did modify this recipe a little bit. I eliminated the nutmeg as I’m just not a fan of it in my cream sauces and I used whole wheat bread. I don’t feel I was missing out on much as the wonderful smoky flavor from the bacon and the bite from the red pepper flakes elevated this from a typical homemade macaroni and cheese recipe to an outstanding one.
Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon
Crumbly Topping
- 2 cloves garlic
- 3 tbsp finely chopped parsely
- 6 slices of white bread, crusts removed (I used whole wheat)
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 12 oz center-cut bacon, chopped into bite size pieces
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 lb pasta cooked very al dente (generally 2-3 minutes less than the suggested cooking time on the box)
- 5 1/2 cups whole milk, heated until warm
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt (I used grey sea salt)
- 1/2 freshly ground pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (I omitted)
- 12 oz or 4 cups of sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
- 8 oz herb & garlic flavored Chevre cheese (goat cheese) crumbled
- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- Preheat oven to 375° F. Butter a 3-4 quart casserole dish.
- Prepare Breadcrumbs. Put garlic & parsley in a food processor and pulse until minced. Add bread and pulse until the bread turns to crumbs and mixture is combined. Pour in melted butter and pulse until mixed in. Set breadcrumbs aside.
- In a large skillet, saute bacon until it is crisp (a slight modification from the original recipe). Remove and drain on paper towels. Drain all but 1 tbsp of bacon grease from the pan. Add 3 tbsp of butter to the pan and heat to medium. When butter sizzles, add the flour and cook, stirring for 1 minute (make sure do cook for at least 1 minute to get rid of the “flour” taste). Slowly pour the milk into flour the skillet and stir in thyme, mustard powder, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Then stir in 3 cups of the cheddar cheese, Chevre and parmigiano cheese.
- Stir in cooked pasta and bacon into the cheese sauce. Pour mixture into your buttered casserole dish. It will be soupy. Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese onto the pasta. Scatter your breadcrumb mixture over the top.
- Bake until browned on top, about 30 minutes. Check at 15 minutes to make sure the topping isn’t browning too quickly. If it is, just place a sheet of foil loosely over the top. Once done, remove from the over and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Like this macaroni and cheese recipe? If so, then vote for it or your favorite. The winner will be featured at Moms Crazy Cooking.
Powered by Linky Tools
Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…
About Sarah
Sarah is a healthcare administrator, mother of one spunky 6-year old daughter and a travel blogger living in Wichita, Kansas. Join her as she tackles life in the midwest one to-do list at a time.
Twitter:
says:
Sounds delicious with the bacon and chevre.
My Crazy Cooking Challenge entry: Velvety Mac & Cheese.
Lisa~~ Cook Lisa Cook
Wow! The flavors in this mac n cheese must go really well together – I love the thyme, the garlic flavored chevre… ohemgee! AMAZING!
A friend of mine calls bacon a condiment and no dish seems complete without it
Your friend is a very intelligent person!
Mmmm – that looks very good!
I bet it was a hit!!
Stopping by from the MACARONI & CHEESE Linky Party through Moms Crazy Cooking
Hey there (#53:)
This sounds very very good. I love how you added “sharp” ingredients. I bet this was not mild and blah at all! Delish!
Looks wonderful!
And thanks for joing CCC… come by and see my Mac & Cheese Bites!
http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/2011/09/macaroni-and-cheese-bites-crazy-cooking.html
This sounds delicious…I love goat cheese!
Please come live with me!!! This looks great!
Twitter:
says:
How can you go wrong with bacon (unless you’re a vegetarian!)? My boys adore homemade mac and cheese and might be ready to try new variations of the theme. Looks delish!
Twitter:
says:
Homemade Mac n cheese is always better than a box. We like to change the type of pasta used for a little something different.
Twitter:
says:
That looks so good!
Wendy
Around My Family Table
This sounds amazing! Definitely not your average mac ‘n’ cheese!
Amy @ A Nest in the Rocks