BACON MAC AND CHEESE

Yummy! This homemade bacon mac and cheese is one of my favorite dinners! It is seriously full of flavor and quite easy to make considering it’s completely homemade. This is also really good to take to potluck and will surely impress your guests and kiddos. Enjoy….

Bacon Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

• 4 cups dry pasta
• 4 strips bacon
• 1 cup diced onion
• 2 gloves garlic, minced
• 4 tablespoons butter
• ¼ cup flour
• 2 cups milk
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons ground mustard
• 8oz cheddar cheese, grated
• 8oz gruyere cheese, grated
• Salt and Pepper to taste 

Topping:

• 1 cup cracker crumbs
• ½ cup cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• Reserved bacon pieces

Directions:

Bring a pot of water to a boil and salt generously.  Prepare the pasta according to the directions on the package.

In a large skillet, fry the bacon until crisp. Remove to a plate lined with a paper towel and set aside.  Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease and cook the onions on low until translucent.  Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.

In a large saucepan, melt the butter and whisk in the flour over medium heat.  Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly.  Add in the milk and cream and ground mustard and stir until the mixture is very thick.  Reduce the heat to low and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Fold in the pasta until it is all covered with the cheese sauce.

Butter a large baking dish and pour the pasta into the dish.  Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheese over the pasta. Top with the cracker crumbs, then drizzle with the melted butter.  Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbly.  Chop the reserved bacon and sprinkle over the top before serving.