Photo by Gina Moore
bacon macaroni cheese
Serves 6
½ pound small pasta (such as elbow, penne, ditalini)
3½ tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
2 cups milk
2 garlic cloves, peeled
½ teaspoon dried thyme
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Pinch nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
1 cup grated Gruyere cheese
1 cup grated sharp white cheddar cheese
½ cup grated provolone cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
6 slices crispy cooked bacon, crumbled
2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook pasta until al dente, about 6 minutes. Drain pasta in a colander and return to pot. Toss with 1 tablespoon butter. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan, combine milk, garlic and thyme. Warm over medium-low heat until milk starts to steam, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and let the flavors infuse 2-3 minutes.
In a large pot over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter, and add the flour. Cook, stirring constantly, 1–2 minutes. Do not let brown. Strain the milk, and whisk it into the flour mixture to avoid lumps. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat; season with salt, pepper, nutmeg and cayenne pepper. Add the Gruyere, cheddar and provolone cheeses (substitute your favorite cheeses, if you prefer). Add half of the Parmesan, and stir until cheeses are melted. Adjust seasoning to taste. Add cooked pasta to the cheese mixture, and mix until pasta is well coated.
Coat an 8-inch-by-8-inch baking dish with the remaining ½ tablespoon of butter. Put half of the pasta and cheese mixture into the baking dish, and cover with half of the crumbled bacon. Repeat with remaining pasta and bacon. In a small bowl, mix remaining Parmesan and breadcrumbs, and sprinkle over the top. Bake until golden brown, about 45 minutes.
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Recipe tip
How to cook crispy bacon – To get the crispiest cooked bacon, start out with thicker slices. If you’re cooking just a few strips, microwave about one minute per slice, longer if needed. For larger batches of bacon, lay strips on parchment paper on a baking sheet, and bake at 425 F about 20 minutes.