The key to this bacon macaroni & cheese recipe is the 4 cheeses. Lauren and I tried quite a few combinations of different cheeses before settling on this 4 cheese mix as providing the best flavour and texture. The mac & cheese tastes great by itself and is comfort food at its best, however if you’re feeling super indulgent, the smoked maple bacon takes things to the next level.
Preparation Time: 5 minutes / Cooking Time: 20 minutes / Serves 4
Ingredients
The Mac & Cheese
- 375g macaroni
- 70g grated Monterey Jack cheese (or Gouda)
- 70g grated Cheddar cheese
- 30g Queso Quesadilla cheese (or Mozzarella)
- 30g Asadero cheese (or Provolone)
- 45g unsalted butter
- 60g plain flour
- 450ml milk
- salt & pepper for seasoning
The Smoked Maple Bacon (Optional)
- 6 rashers bacon
- 2 tbsp (30ml) maple syrup
- 1⁄2 tsp (2.5g) smoked paprika
- 2 tbsp (30g) bread crumbs
Method
The Mac & Cheese
- Cook pasta as per your pasta boxes instructions. Ensure a pinch of salt and a dash of oil has been added to the water before you add the pasta
- Once cooked remove from the heat, strain and place aside.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over a medium heat
- Add the flour and stir to combine into a ball, cook for 1 or 2 minutes
- Add the milk bit by bit while stirring . This will prevent you from having a lumpy sauce
- Once all milk has been added and you have a smooth white sauce add all the cheese.
- Stir until all the cheese has melted then add the pasta directly into the sauce.
- You can serve at this point (as below), and it tastes great, however for extra indulgence, continue to the next step.
The Smoked Maple Bacon (Optional)
- Preheat the oven to 220oC.
- Place bacon on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
- Put the tray into the oven for 15 minutes.
- Mix the paprika and maple syrup together and coat the bacon once the 15 minutes is up.
- Once the paprika/maple mix has been added return the bacon to the oven for a further 5 minutes.
- Cut the bacon into thin strips and set aside.
- Place the macaroni & cheese in an oven proof dish and stir through most of the bacon. If you are serving the dish in individual portions, work on one rasher per serve.
- Sprinkle the reserved bacon and bread crumbs on top of the macaroni cheese and put under a hot grill for 5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and serve.
Notes
As a main, this recipe serves 4 people, as a side it serves 6.
With or without the smoked maple bacon, it tastes great.
If you don’t have any macaroni on hand, any small pasta that holds sauce well, such as fusilli also works.