Bacon Mac and Cheese is a creamy, cheesy, baked favorite that is loaded with crispy bacon for the ultimate comfort side dish. Try it tonight!
You already know and love our Baked Mac and Cheese, and while it’s hard to beat a classic, adding Bacon just seemed natural. For more tasty popular dishes to serve alongside your main meal, check our Side Dish Recipes.
Sabrina’s Bacon Mac and Cheese Recipe
Whether it’s from a box, a slow cooker, or a casserole dish, there’s no doubt about it – Macaroni and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food. There are entire restaurants that center around the cheesy, delicious classic and serve it almost exclusively, that’s how much people love their Mac. We’ve long perfected Baked Mac and Cheese, but sometimes you want a little more. Sometimes you want to add some crispy, smoky flavor to complement the sharp cheddar. The best way we know how is to add a main dish’s favorite sidekick: bacon!
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 8 ounces bacon , cooked and crumbled
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 teaspoons powdered mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 6 cups whole milk
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 large egg
- 4 ounces Monterey jack cheese , shredded
- 4 ounces mozzarella cheese , shredded
- 12 ounces sharp cheddar , shredded, divided
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
- If not done already, shred the cheeses keeping 2 cups of the cheddar off to the side for the topping.
- Cook the pasta then let it sit in the water an extra 10 minutes (this will help it avoid soaking up the cheese sauce) before draining and rinsing gently.
- Place the bacon in a large pan over medium heat. Cook until crispy, about 4-5 minutes.
- Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on paper towels.
- Leave 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pan; discard the rest of the fat.
- Add the butter to the pan and melt.
- Add the flour, mustard, cayenne, and paprika and whisk together until fully combined, cook for an additional 15 seconds.
- Add the milk slowly while whisking to keep the mixture well combined.
- Add in the salt and pepper and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- Turn off the heat.
- Remove 1 cup of the milk mixture and let cool for a 3-5 minutes in the refrigerator in a larger glass measuring cup or bowl.
- Add the egg to the cooled milk and whisk it well until fully combined.
- Turn the heat back on the pot to medium-low.
- Slowly pour the egg and milk mixture into the rest of the milk while whisking very well.
- Add in the Monterey jack, mozzarella, and 1 cup of the sharp cheddar and whisk until combined.
- Add the rinsed macaroni and half of the bacon pieces back into the pot and toss with the cheese sauce.
- Pour into a 9×13-inch baking dish and top with the remaining 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese and bacon.
- Bake for 30 minutes, uncovered.
Nutrition
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Table of Contents
What to Pair with Bacon Mac and Cheese
A rich, Baked Bacon Mac and Cheese recipe goes great with meaty dishes like Ultimate Pork Loin with a side of Roasted Veggies to balance out all the cheese sauce and bacon. When it’s kid’s choice night, Crispy Chicken Tenders are always on the menu with our Mac and Cheese. Pasta Recipes like this Bacon Mac are great for potlucks because you can assemble them the day before, and they reheat so well.
Make in Advance
To make this dish ahead of time, follow the recipe until it is time to add it to the oven. You can store it in the freezer, covered in foil, for up to 3 months, and in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat from frozen, thaw in the fridge overnight and bake as usual. If cooking from cold, you might need to add a little more to the cook time.
How to Serve and Store
- Serve: Mac and Cheese is always best served right away. Don’t leave out for more than 2 hours.
- Store: Store leftovers for up to 3 days in a sealed container.
- Freeze: Bacon Mac and Cheese can be frozen in an air-tight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating in the oven.
Alternative Cooking Techniques
Slow Cooker
- Reduce milk to 4 cups, add 1 can evaporated milk.
- Whisk your eggs, milks, flour and seasonings in your 5-6 qt slow cooker.
- Add in uncooked pasta and cheeses, reserve 2 cups cheddar.
- Cook on low 3-4 hours, until pasta is tender.
- Meanwhile, cook bacon and drain grease.
- When pasta finishes, stir in half of bacon. Top with remaining cheddar and bacon.
- Cover and cook until cheese melts.
Variations
- Pepperoni Mac: Pepperoni and bacon taste amazing together. Add some mini pepperoni slices to your mac and cheese and top with mozzarella cheese for a pizza spin.
- Toppings: Give your Baked Mac and cheese more crunch by sprinkling the top with breadcrumbs, mixed with seasonings and butter, during the last 5-10 minutes of baking.
- Bacon Ranch: Make this into mouthwatering Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac and Cheese recipe. Take 2 cups of shredded chicken and 2 tablespoons dry Ranch Dressing Mix and combine in skillet. Add chicken mixture to your pasta before baking.
- Pasta: Switch up your pasta by using another small noodle that has curves or hollow centers perfect for catching more of that delicious cheese sauce. We like to use cavatappi, fusilli, or small shells.
Related Recipes
More Mac and Cheese Recipes
These photos were used in a previous version of this post
Looking good
Would be helpful to add an option to convert measurements to metric system.
Tasty but time consuming!!! My bacon took a lot longer than 5 mins in the pan. Maybe suggest baking it! That’s what I’ll do next time.
6 cups of milk and it’s only a 9×13 dish. That sounds like WAY to much milk
Hi Patricia, it’s based upon this recipe for Baked Mac and Cheese which is among the most popular on the site. I hope you enjoy it! Happy Thanksgiving! https://dinnerthendessert.com/baked-mac-and-cheese/
When do you add the butter?
You’ll want to add it to the pan with the reserved bacon fat and melt. Enjoy!
I see butter in the ingredients but not in the recipe. Is there a step missing or is it a mistake in the ingredient list?
Sorry about that, you’ll want to add it into the flour step. Thanks for catching that.
This looks yummy.. I am definitely going to make this
Hello from Iowa
Enjoy!
You can’t go wrong with TWO comfort foods paired together! Bacon + Mac and Cheese = heaven! SO good!!
It’s perfection in my book too, Cindy!
I have to admit, not growing up with mac n cheese, I can find it a little plain (much as I love cheese and pasta) but I would definitely be up for this. Can’t go wrong with bacon and looks delicious!
Definitely worth a try, Caroline.
Oh my, does this macaroni and cheese look good!
Thanks for the 5 stars, Genevieve.
All time family favorite Dinner option. Love the cheesy and creamy texture of this dish. Yum.
So glad you all enjoyed it! Thanks for the 5 stars.
Would this be good with some fresh grated Parmesan, if so how much would you recommend
Sounds delicious! You could always substitute as part of the cheddar cheese or simply add a sprinkle of top of it. Enjoy!