Bacon Mac & Cheese

Name: Bacon Mac & Cheese
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound elbow macaroni; 4 cups milk; 2-3 sprigs thyme & some thyme leaves; 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped, divided; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 5 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese; Salt & pepper; 1/4 cup chopped parsley; 1 pound bacon, diced; 1 large onion, diced

shauna.bradney @SJ2213

Aurora, Colorado

Personal tip - I don’t have luck pouring liquids from 1 pot to another I usually transfer to a measuring cup or something. Ya I dirty more dishes and it takes a bit longer but I do not have a mess spilled all over my counter and stove.

shauna.bradney @SJ2213

Saved

Ingredients

1 poundelbow macaroni
4 cupsmilk
2-3 sprigsthyme & some thyme leaves
4 clovesgarlic, finely chopped, divided
3 tablespoonsunsalted butter
3 tablespoonsall-purpose flour
5 1/2 cupsshredded sharp cheddar cheese
Salt & pepper
1/4 cupchopped parsley
1 poundbacon, diced
1large onion, diced

Saved

Steps

1

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the macaroni and cook 8-9 minutes, drain and set aside.
2

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
3

In a saucepan heat the milk with the thyme springs and 2 garlic cloves - do not boil you are just infusing the milk with the thyme and garlic flavor.
4

In a large deep skillet melt the butter over med-high heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, to keep lumps from forming.
5

Remove the thyme sprigs from the milk and gently whisk it into the butter flour mixture.
6

Continue to whisk vigorously and cook until the mixture is smooth.
7

Stir in 4 cups of the cheese and continue to cook and stir to melt the cheese.
8

Season with salt and pepper.
9

Add the cooked macaroni and parsley, fold together until all the macaroni is coated in cheese.
10

Add to a greased baking dish and top with remaining cheese.
11

Bake for about 30 minutes.
12

While that is baking - in a medium sauté pan, cook the bacon until just getting crispy.
13

Remove most of the fat, leave a little for oil.
14

Add the onion to the bacon and cook for 5 minutes to soften them.
15

Add remaining garlic and thyme leaves and cook for another 5 minutes, set aside.
16

To serve top Mac and cheese with bacon mixture and enjoy.