Easy Bacon Mac and Cheese Recipe

Satisfy your craving for cheesy, bacon goodness with this quick and easy Bacon Mac and Cheese recipe! It's perfect for a busy weeknight dinner or a delicious side dish.

If you're craving more tasty mac and cheese recipes, then be sure to try making some Southern Baked Mac and Cheese, Stovetop White Cheddar Mac and Cheese, One Pot Broccoli Mac and Cheese, or some Pressure Cooker Mac and Cheese. 

Macaroni and cheese is the ultimate comfort food recipe!

It's rich, buttery, and cheesy taste. It also can be made in many different ways including adding a sprinkle of tasty bacon.  

Let's get started! 

Ingredients You'll Need 

1. Elbows - A classic pasta used in most macaroni and cheese recipes. Feel free to use Cellentani or shells instead of elbow macaroni. 
2. Butter - Any brand you love and can easily locate at most grocery stores. Salted or unsalted butter, either will work. Also, butter the bottom and sides of the baking dish before adding the pasta. 
3. All-Purpose Flour - Plain flour with nothing added, it helps to thicken the cheese sauce and combines with the melted butter to create the roux base. 
4. Half and Half - A great substitute for whole milk, but you can use whole milk instead if you prefer. Canned evaporated milk works too. 
5. Heavy Cream - Thickens the sauce and makes it nice and smooth with a creamy texture. 
6. Ground Mustard - Adds a sharp and tangy flavor that cuts the heavy cream-based sauce.  
7. Garlic Powder - Provides an intense dry garlic flavor to the homemade mac and cheese. You may also add in some onion powder as well if you prefer. 
8. Salt & Ground Black Pepper - Seasons the overall dish and brings out the other ingredient flavors. It prevents the pasta from tasting flat and bland. 
9. Cheddar Cheese - Shredded sharp cheddar cheese is what I prefer to use, but any shredded cheese you enjoy will work in this recipe. A few more tasty cheese options are Colby jack, mozzarella cheese, gruyere, Monterey jack cheese, and pepper jack cheese. Opt to shred your own cheese cheese using a box grater instead of grabbing the bagged pre-shredded cheese that usually contains additional ingredients.  
10. Bacon - Cut some thick-cut bacon into smaller pieces and cook it until it is crispy. This is the star ingredient and adds a smoky and salty flavor. 
11. Breadcrumbs - This ingredient adds a flaky and crispy topping by soaking up the excess oil that may form on the top while baking. You can use regular breadcrumbs or Panko breadcrumbs. They can also be omitted if you're not a fan of them being added to macaroni and cheese. 

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities and instructions.

How to Make Homemade Bacon Mac 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and place the slices of bacon on the prepared baking sheet. Place into the oven to bake for 10 to 20 minutes, until the bacon is as crispy as you would like it. Carefully remove it from the oven and allow it to cool before chopping into smaller pieces. Set aside. 

Grab a large saucepan, Dutch oven, or stockpot, fill it with water, and add salt, this will help season the pasta. Allow the water to come to a boil before adding the pasta. Cook the pasta until it's just under al dente, it will fully cook in the oven. Carefully remove the pasta from the stovetop and drain off the pasta water. 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. and butter the bottom and sides of a 9x13-inch baking/casserole dish. Set it aside. Using the large stock pot over medium-high heat, add the butter and allow it to melt and become foamy.

Add the all-purpose flour and stir or whisk continuously until it dissolves and thickens. Slowly add the half and half and heavy cream, stirring the mixture continuously. Allow the mixture to cook for about 2 to 3 minutes. 

Add the dry mustard powder, garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper and stir to combine. 

Add the shredded cheese and stir continuously to allow the cheese to completely melt to form a creamy cheese sauce, this may take about 2 to 3 minutes. 

Grab the cooked macaroni pasta that you set aside and add it to the cheese sauce. Stir until evenly distributed and the pasta is covered in the sauce. Add half of the crispy bacon to the pasta and stir to combine. Pour the pasta into the prepared buttered baking dish. Spread the pasta evenly into the bottom of the baking dish.

Top with an even layer of bacon and shredded cheese. Evenly top with breadcrumbs.

Place the macaroni into the oven to bake for about 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown and bubbly. If you would like to lightly brown the top of the mac and cheese, place it underneath the broiler on high for 2 to 3 minutes.

Carefully remove the pan from the oven and allow it to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm as a main dish or with your holiday meal or Sunday dinner and enjoy!

Recipe Tips & Tricks 

• If you prefer not to cook the bacon in the oven, then you may cook it on the stovetop over medium heat until crispy. 
• Be sure to undercook the macaroni. It should be cooked just below al dente. It should be stiff and still have a bite to it. At this point remove it from the stovetop and drain off the water. The pasta will continue cooking in the oven. 
• Shred blocks of cheese yourself using a box grater, food processor, or stand mixer attachment. This ensures the cheese does not have any additional preservatives and melts so much better. 
• The type of cheese that you use is important. The best cheeses for this recipe are sharp cheddar, extra-sharp cheddar, mild cheddar, or any melty cheese.
• Try not to overbake your mac and cheese! It only needs to bake for about 20 minutes in the oven. Once the cheese has fully melted and is bubbly remove it from the oven. This will ensure you have creamy macaroni and cheese that is not dry and chewy. If you want the top to brown a little more, place it under the broiler for a few minutes. 

Storage Tips 

Storage. If you have any leftover macaroni and cheese, be sure to allow it to cool to room temperature before storing. If you're storing it for a day, then simply cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator. Storing it for 3 to 4 days, transfer the mac and cheese to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. 

Reheating. When you're ready to serve the creamy baked mac, reheat it in the oven at 300 degrees F. until fully warm. You can also reheat it in the microwave for a quicker option. 

Freezing. Unbaked but assembled mac and cheese can be stored in the freezer for up to 1 month. Make sure it's in a freezer and oven-safe container and cover it tightly with a double layer of aluminum foil before placing it in the freezer. Transfer it to the refrigerator and allow it to thaw overnight before placing it into the oven to bake. I do not recommend freezing cooked mac and cheese as it changes the texture. 

Make Ahead Option. This recipe is perfect to make up to 24 hours in advance. Fully prepare the mac and cheese, cover it tightly with aluminum foil, and place it in the refrigerator. Continue with the baking instructions the next day. 

Want More Simple and Delicious Recipes? Try These: 

• Southern Mac and Cheese Recipe
• White Cheddar Mac and Cheese 
• One Pot Broccoli Mac and Cheese 
• Easy Cornbread Dressing 
• Sweet Potato Casserole 
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes 
• Easy Green Bean Casserole 
• Southern Collard Green and Ham Hocks
• Easy Candied Yams 
• Old Fashioned Yeast Rolls 

Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ways to enjoy this Bacon Mac and Cheese Recipe? Please share them in the comments below!

📖 Recipe