A fall favorite. Mac and Cheese That Really Brings Home the Bacon

Mac and cheese is one of those classic, soulful comfort foods that we all know and love — and with good reason! It’s richly satisfying, feel-good flavors never fail to fill the belly and warm the heart. It’s a dish we can turn to when we need comfort on a rainy day or when we want something delicious and plentiful to share ‘round the dinner table.

In honor of this home-cooked favorite, we’re adding an adult spin to the traditional recipe by tossing in another beloved ingredient: bacon! Our Bacon Mac and Cheese will surely satisfy even the most die-hard mac and cheese fans. It’s elevated, beautifully flavored and not just creamy and cheesy, but crispy, too. With a smoky bite of crisp and salty bacon on top, this recipe is a holiday-time comfort food that will have everyone helping themselves to a second serving or two.

Like any fine cheese, our recipe undoubtedly calls for a fabulous wine pairing. Sutter Home Pinot Noir does just the trick, with ripe berry flavors and violet scents that meld beautifully with the richness of the bacon and cheese. A perfect pairing, indeed.

Whip up your own melty, gooey, cheesy goodness with our recipe for Bacon Mac and Cheese below.

If comfort food brings you joy, we recommend giving our recipe for Fried Green Tomatoes a try.

Baked Bacon Mac and Cheese Ingredients: ​

• ½ cup unsalted butter​
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour​
• 3 cups whole milk​
• 1 – 12-ounce package of thick cut bacon cut into ½ in squares​
• Salt and pepper to taste​
• 1 pound of macaroni noodle​
• 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese​
• 1 cup of panko

Baked Bacon Mac and Cheese Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. ​
2. In a skillet cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon but do not empty grease from skillet. Lower heat to a simmer and melt butter in the skillet. Add flour while constantly whisking for 1 minute. Then, whisk in milk and 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Whisk often until glossy sauce forms. Add salt and pepper and remove from heat. ​
3.  Add uncooked pasta, cooked bacon and 1 ½ cup cheese in a casserole dish. Pour in sauce (pasta should be covered with sauce). Cover dish with foil and bake for 20 mins.​
4.  Toss panko, salt and pepper in a bowl. Remove foil from dish and sprinkle with panko mixture and remaining cheese. Bake for another 10 mins or until top is golden brown and crispy. ​

Enjoy!