Ultimate Baked Mac N Cheese with Bacon
From sparow64 14 years agoIngredients
- kosher salt shopping list
- 6 Tbs. unsalted butter shopping list
- 1 medium onion, finely diced shopping list
- 6 Tbs. all-purpose flour shopping list
- 1 Tbs. Dijon mustard shopping list
- 1 quart whole milk, heated shopping list
- 1 large sprig fresh thyme, plus 1 tsp. chopped thyme leaves shopping list
- 1 bay leaf shopping list
- 8 oz. (2 packed cups) grated extra-sharp white Cheddar (the sharpest you can find; I like Cabot’s Seriously Sharp Hunter’s Cheddar) shopping list
- 4 oz. (1 packed cup) grated Monterey Jack shopping list
- 1/2 tsp. worcestershire sauce shopping list
- 1/2 tsp. Tabasco sauce shopping list
- Freshly ground black pepper shopping list
- 1 lb. elbow macaroni or other small pasta, such as pipette or small shells shopping list
- 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil; more for the baking dish shopping list
- 2 cups fresh breadcrumbs (I don't measure, but I'd say I use about 1/2 that amount of fresh breadcrumbs - this is the amount for cubed, fresh breadcrumbs. If you have the fine ground breadcrumbs just lightly sprinkle across the top) shopping list
- 1-1/2 oz. (1/2 lightly packed cup) freshly grated parmigiano-Reggiano shopping list
How to make it
- Heat the oven to 400°F and put a large pot of well-salted water on to boil over high heat.
- Meanwhile, in a 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven or other heavy-duty pot, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the onion and 1/2 tsp. salt and cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add the flour and cook, stirring, until slightly darker, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the mustard.
- Switch to a whisk and gradually add the milk, whisking constantly. To avoid lumps, go slowly at first, whisking until the mixture is smooth before adding more milk.
- Once about half the milk is in and the mixture still isn’t very thick, you can add the rest more quickly.
- When all the milk is in, switch back to the spoon and stir in the thyme sprig, bay leaf, and 1/2 tsp. salt.
- Let come to a bare simmer, and cook, stirring frequently, for 15 minutes to meld the flavors (reduce the heat to medium low or low as needed to maintain the bare simmer).
- Discard the thyme sprig and bay leaf.
- Add the Cheddar and Jack cheeses, stirring until melted, and then add the Worcestershire and Tabasco.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Keep warm, stirring occasionally.
- Cook the pasta in the boiling water until al dente.
- Pour into a colander and shake it a few times to drain really well. Add the pasta to the cheese sauce, and stir until well combined. Generously season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Lightly butter a 9x13-inch baking dish and spread the pasta in the dish.
- In a medium bowl, toss the breadcrumbs, Parmigiano, olive oil, chopped thyme, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper.
- Scatter the crumbs evenly over the pasta.
- Bake in the center of the oven until the crumb topping is golden, about 15 minutes.
- Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
- VARIATIONS
- Add flavor or heat with these add-ins:
- Pancetta or bacon: Sauté 1/4 lb. pancetta or bacon (finely chopped if using pancetta) until crisp and golden. Drain on paper towels, leaving the fat in the pan. Crumble the bacon. Substitute the fat for part of the butter so that you have about 6 Tbs. total, and proceed with the recipe. Add the pancetta or bacon to the sauce along with the pasta.
- Ham: Brown 2 cups of small-diced smoked ham in the butter over medium-high heat. Drain on paper towels and proceed with the recipe, reducing the heat to medium to cook the onion. Add the ham to the sauce along with the pasta.
- Hot chiles: Cook 2 Tbs. minced fresh serrano chiles along with the onions. Or add 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes with the mustard.
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The Rating
Reviewed by 12 people-
Sounds wonderful, kind of a gourmet mac n cheese. Thanks.
maureenlaw in ST LOUIS loved it -
Awesome sounding. And a heart attack in a bowl!
joe1155 in Munchen loved it -
fantastic post! luv this mac and cheese thanks high5
momo_55grandma in Mountianview loved it
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