Classically decadent three-cheese mac & cheese topped with crumbled bacon
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword bacon mac & cheese, baked mac & cheese, macaroni & cheese, macaroni and cheese, three cheese macaroni
Prep Time10minutes
Cook Time1hour
Total Time1hour10minutes
Servings12people
Ingredients
16ouncescavatappi pastacooked just shy of al dente (about 6-7 minutes)
10ouncessmall pasta shellscooked just shy of al dente (about 6-7 minutes)
1cupshredded sharp cheddar
2cupsshredded mild cheddar
1/4cupshredded mimolette
2cupsmilkI use unsweetened almond milk
1/2cupsalted buttermelted
3/8cupflour
12ouncesbacon(optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add pasta to a rectangular casserole or cake pan. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
Stir in flour and mix well to form a sort of roux. Reduce heat and continue stirring until mixture thickens.
Stir in cheese about a half cup at a time until smooth (and drool-inducing).
Pour cheese sauce over pasta and cover with foil. Bake covered for 25 minutes, then uncovered for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, place bacon on a non-stick or greased cookie sheet and bake at the same temperature for about fifteen minutes or to your desired level of crispness.
Remove from oven and place on a plate layered with newspaper to soak up excess grease. Once slightly cooled, crumble up the paper into a little ball. When you unfold it, the bacon should be crumbled into pieces and perfect for sprinkling atop your mac and cheese.
Remove pasta from the oven. Garnish with bacon, if desired, and serve.