Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this loaded mac and cheese! Creamy, cheesy, and topped with crispy bacon and golden breadcrumbs, it’s the perfect dish for family gatherings or cozy nights in. With rich flavors of sharp cheddar and smoky bacon, this recipe will have everyone asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 slices bacon, cooked crispy and chopped
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
- Cook the elbow macaroni in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente (7-8 minutes). Drain well.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour to form a roux; cook until golden (1-2 minutes).
- Gradually whisk in milk; bring to a simmer. Stir in cheddar cheese until melted and smooth.
- Combine cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce until well coated. Fold in crispy bacon bits.
- Transfer to a greased baking dish; top with panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and bubbling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 240g)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 45mg