Bacon Mac & Cheese

This Bacon Mac & Cheese is cozy, creamy and touched with that sweet southern warmth that feels like gathering around the table with family - the kind of comfort that’s been passed down, shared and loved for years.

Bacon Mac and Cheese

3-TBSP- all purpose flour

3-TBSP butter, I used half butter and half bacon grease

2-c-whole milk

1/2-tsp each, salt, pepper and garlic powder

8oz grated Parmesan cheese

8oz grated mozzarella cheese

8oz grated cheddar cheese

16oz elbow noodles, cooked

16oz bacon, chopped and cooked crispy

1/2-c- panko breadcrumbs

2-TBSP butter, melted

First take 16oz of your favorite bacon and chop it up and cook it up until it's nice and crispy. Then remove the bacon to a paper towel lined plate and set it aside. Do not get rid of that grease. Save about a TBSP or 2 to use in your sauce. Next, take a big pot of water and bring it to a boil. Once it's boiling, add about 1 tablespoon of salt. Then add your 16 oz of pasta and cook according to your package directions. Then drain and set aside.

Ok, here we go.

Preheat your oven to 375. You can totally grate your own cheese, I wasn't up to that today, so l used what I had.

That being said, mix your cheeses together in a bowl then set aside about 1/2 of it. You'll use that in a tew minutes.

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, add your 1-2 TBSP of bacon grease and then add about 1 TBSP of butter. You can use all butter if you want to. Ok, once that's all melted and starting to bubble, add your flour, 3 TBSP and whisk. Keep whisking for about a minute, you want to cook the raw flour taste out. Then slowly add your 2 cups of milk, whisking the whole time. It's going to be a little clumpy, it's ok, keep whisking. Once it starts to smooth out, season with 1/2 tsp each, salt, pepper and garlic powder and whisk to combine. Then add 1/2 of your cheese blend. I switch to a spatula for this. Then lower your heat to the lowest setting, you just need the cheese to melt. Once it's melted, add your pasta and toss it around to coat. Then add about 1/2 of that bacon and stir that in. Ok, now spray your 9x13 casserole dish with nonstick spray, and add about 1/2 of that mac and cheese and spread it evenly in the bottom of the dish.Top that with the remaining cheese, then top with the remaining mac and cheese.

Then mix up 1/2-cup panko crumbs with about 2-TBSP melted butter and the other half of that bacon. Sprinkle this yummy mixture all over the top. Now bake this for about 20-25 minutes or until nice and golden brown and bubbly. Remove from the oven and let cool about 10 minutes before serving it up!