We can all agree that a cheesy, creamy, decadent bowl of Mac & Cheese is the king of comfort foods. Adding smoky bacon to the party elevates this comfort food to the very top of the comfort food pyramid. I might even say it could be classified as the ultimate comfort food. Tender pasta coated in a luscious, rich, creamy cheese sauce with chunks of smokey bacon, all topped with crunchy bacon infused breadcrumbs?!?! Be still my beating heart! You must give this creamy stovetop version a try and let me know if you agree. This dish is ridiculously, insanely delicious!!! And no, it’s not low calorie, but that’s why it’s so very, very tasty!
Cook elbow macaroni according to package directions.
Drain and toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil to prevent the pasta from sticking together. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, combine sour cream and Dijon mustard.
Or just plop the sour cream and mustard into the cooked pasta, stirring to coat and set aside.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook bacon pieces until crisp.
Remove bacon from the skillet with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel lined plate. Set aside.
Add the Panko bread crumbs to the bacon fat in the skillet and cook until they are a rich golden brown.
Remove toasted breadcrumbs from skillet and set aside.
In a large saucepan heat heavy cream over medium heat. Use the same pot you used to cook the pasta, less cleanup!
Once cream just starts to bubble along the edges of the pan stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and grated sharp cheddar cheese.
Stir and cook over medium heat until cheeses are completely melted and you have a rich, thick, creamy cheese sauce.
Add the cooked bacon, cayenne, salt and pepper to the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
Add the cheese sauce to the cooked pasta and stir to combine everything together. Cook on low heat, stirring constantly until completely heated through.
Top each serving with toasted breadcrumbs and garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Winter can rage outside, you’ll find me hibernating under a snuggly blankie munching on a bowl of this delectable Mac & Cheese. This recipe is one of the few things that makes the long, dreary, cold, winter days nearly tolerable. Give this recipe a try, you won’t be disappointed.
Stovetop Bacon Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ lb bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ¼ tsp Cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook elbow macaroni according to package directions. Drain and and return to the pot. Toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil to prevent the pasta from sticking together. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, combine sour cream and Dijon mustard.
- Add the sour cream/mustard mixture to the cooked pasta, stirring to coat and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook bacon pieces until crisp.
- Remove bacon from the skillet with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel lined plate. Set aside.
- Add the Panko bread crumbs to the skillet and cook until breadcrumbs are a rich golden brown.
- Remove from skillet and set aside.
- In a large saucepan heat heavy cream over medium heat.
- Once cream just starts to bubble along the edges of the pan stir in grated Parmesan cheese and grated sharp cheddar cheese.
- Stir and cook over medium heat until cheeses are completely melted and you have a rich, thick, creamy cheese sauce.
- Add the cooked bacon, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper to the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
- Add the cheese sauce to the cooked pasta and stir to combine everything together. Cook on low heat, stirring constantly until completely heated through.
- Top each serving with toasted breadcrumbs and garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Did You Make This?
Be sure to snap a pic and tag it #naturewayblog I love, love, love hearing from my readers! Please, don’t forget to leave a comment and a review below, and be sure to follow me on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, TELEGRAM or TWITTER for all the latest happening here at Nature Way!
May I ask a small favor? If you enjoyed this blogpost would you be so kind and like the page? Just click the “like” button down at the very bottom, at the end of the post. It lets me know what you are enjoying the most. It also helps me focus my attention on creating content that will be most meaningful and beneficial to you, my readers. And don’t forget to subscribe:
When you sign up you’ll never miss out on all the latest that’s happening here at Nature Way. I promise to never spam you, ever! Cross my heart. Thank you and God bless!
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:35
Remember…Jesus ❤️’s you!
1 thought on “How To Make A Stovetop Bacon, Mac & Cheese”