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    Home » Recipes » Pasta

    Creamy Bacon Mac and Cheese Recipe

    Published: Jun 29, 2022 · Modified: Oct 7, 2024 by Beth Sachs · 5 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    A rich and creamy bacon mac and cheese recipe, featuring tender pasta smothered in a velvety cheese sauce. Topped with crispy smoked bacon bits and a crunchy Parmesan-herb breadcrumb topping, it's baked to golden perfection in the oven for a deliciously indulgent twist on the classic comfort food

    Bacon mac and cheese in a white enamel baking dish.

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    Macaroni cheese is my go-to comfort food, and this creamy bacon version is one of my absolute favourite recipes! It's so simple to make, and best of all, it's bursting with flavour.

    👩‍🍳 Love macaroni cheese? Try my easy slow cooker macaroni cheese too!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
    • 🛒 Ingredient notes
    • 🔪 How to make baked bacon mac and cheese
    • Top Tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ Frequently asked questions
    • 😋 More cheesy pasta recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!

    1. Ultimate comfort food and easy to make.
    2. The rich cheesy sauce complements the crispy smoked bacon.
    3. Freezer-friendly pasta recipe.

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    Bacon - chopped maple-cured back bacon or smoked streaky bacon.

    Cheese Sauce - made with a classic roux base with butter, flour, and milk (full-fat for the creamiest flavour), and finished with grated (shredded) extra mature cheddar cheese, grated mozzarella cheese, and seasonings (garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Dijon mustard, and cider vinegar).

    Breadcrumb Topping - a mixture of panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, Italian herb seasoning, salt, and pepper.

    Parsley - freshly chopped to garnish.

    🔪 How to make baked bacon mac and cheese

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil and cook the macaroni until al dente. Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining. Meanwhile, dry fry the chopped bacon until golden and crispy in a non-stick frying pan.

    Two: Melt the butter in a heavy-based saucepan and stir in the flour to make a roux.

    Three: Whisk in the milk and continue to whisk until the sauce thickens. It should coat the back of a spoon.

    Four: Take the white sauce off the heat and add the grated cheddar, grated mozzarella, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Dijon mustard, and cider vinegar. Mix until the cheese melts.

    Making a cheese sauce for bacon mac and cheese.

    Five: Mix in three-quarters of the cooked bacon.

    Six: Stir through the cooked pasta and add enough pasta cooking water to make a glossy sauce.

    Seven: Mix together the breadcrumb topping ingredients (panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and Italian herb seasoning).

    Eight: Pour the macaroni cheese into an oven-proof baking dish and sprinkle over the breadcrumb mixture and reserved bacon pieces. Bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbling. Garnish with chopped parsley

    Assembling bacon macaroni cheese in a baking dish.

    Top Tips

    • Use freshly grated cheddar and Parmesan. Pre-grated cheese is often coated in flour to prevent it from sticking together and will affect the texture of the sauce.
    • If you don't have macaroni, use any other short pasta shape. Penne, rigatoni, or cavatappi all work well.
    • Lower the fat content and use semi-skimmed milk and half-fat cheese.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    Serve the bacon mac and cheese with a green salad or vegetables, such as air fryer asparagus or roasted Tenderstem broccoli.

    A side of homemade focaccia or garlic bread goes down well with the kids!

    Baked mac and cheese with bacon.

    📖 Variations

    Here are a few ideas to take your bacon macaroni cheese to the next level:

    • Garnish with fresh herbs like basil or thyme, and sprinkle toasted pine nuts on top for added crunch.
    • Stir in a tin of drained sweetcorn for added sweetness and texture.
    • Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a spicy kick.
    • Experiment with different cheeses—Gruyère or crumbled Stilton both add fantastic depth of flavour.
    • For a creamier dish, top with grated mozzarella.
    • For a more luxurious baked mac and cheese, replace half the milk with double cream and mix in caramelised onions for extra richness.

    🥡 Storage

    Make-Ahead - Prepare the mac and cheese up to the baking step and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

    Store - Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Reheat - Reheat in the microwave until piping hot, using a microwave-safe bowl.

    Freeze - You can freeze the dish, either baked or unbaked, for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before baking or reheating.

    Baked mac and cheese with bacon.

    ❓ Frequently asked questions

    What is the best cheese to use for macaroni cheese?

    Use a cheese that melts well and has a strong cheesy flavour. I like to use extra mature cheddar cheese, Parmesan, and occasionally gruyere.

    Is mac and cheese healthy?

    Not really! Due to the high-fat content of the cheese, butter and milk, macaroni cheese is not considered a healthy dish.

    😋 More cheesy pasta recipes

    • Chorizo Mac and Cheese
    • Easy Macaroni Cheese
    • Air Fryer Mac and Cheese
    • Cheesy Tuna Pasta Bake
    • Easy Cheesy Pasta
    • Creamy Boursin Pasta
    • Baked Feta Pasta
    • Creamy Garlic Mushroom Pasta
    Macaroni cheese with bacon in a white enamel serving dish.

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    Recipe

    Bacon macaroni cheese with crispy bacon in a baking dish.
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    5 from 10 votes

    Creamy Bacon Mac and Cheese

    Indulge in this creamy bacon mac and cheese recipe, featuring crispy smoked bacon, a rich cheese sauce, and a crunchy Parmesan breadcrumb topping. Perfect comfort food for any occasion.
    Course Pasta
    Cuisine British
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 35 minutes minutes
    Total Time 45 minutes minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 942kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
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    Equipment

    • Chopping Board
    • Knife
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Frying Pan
    • 2 Saucepan
    • Wooden Spoon
    • Whisk
    • Cheese Grater

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 250 g Macaroni
    • 6 Smoked Bacon Rashers chopped
    • 50 g Butter
    • 50 g Plain Flour
    • 600 ml Milk
    • 200 g Extra Mature Cheddar grated
    • 100 g Mozzarella grated
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
    • 1 teaspoon Cider Vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
    • ¼ teaspoon Onion Powder
    • 30 g Panko Breadcrumbs
    • 50 g Parmesan grated
    • 1 teaspoon Italian Herb Seasoning
    • 2 tablespoon Parsley chopped finely

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 200°c (180fan/ Gas 6/ 425F)
    • Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook the macaroni until al dente. Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining. 
      250 g Macaroni
    • Meanwhile, dry fry the chopped bacon until golden and crispy in a non-stick frying pan.
      6 Smoked Bacon Rashers
    • Melt the butter in a heavy-based saucepan and stir in the flour to make a roux.
      50 g Butter, 50 g Plain Flour
    • Whisk in the milk and continue to whisk until the sauce thickens. It should coat the back of a spoon.
      600 ml Milk
    • Take the white sauce off the heat and add the grated cheddar, grated mozzarella, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dijon mustard, and cider vinegar. Mix until the cheese melts.
      200 g Extra Mature Cheddar, 100 g Mozzarella, 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard, 1 teaspoon Cider Vinegar, ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder, ¼ teaspoon Onion Powder, 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
    • Mix in three-quarters of the cooked bacon.
      6 Smoked Bacon Rashers
    • Stir through the cooked pasta and add enough pasta cooking water to make a glossy sauce.
    • Mix together the breadcrumb topping ingredients (panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and Italian herb seasoning).
      30 g Panko Breadcrumbs, 50 g Parmesan, 1 teaspoon Italian Herb Seasoning
    • Pour the macaroni cheese into an oven-proof baking dish and sprinkle over the breadcrumb mixture and reserved bacon pieces. Bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbling. Garnish with chopped parsley
      2 tablespoon Parsley

    Notes

    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Creamy Bacon Mac and Cheese
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    942
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    51
    g
    78
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    23
    g
    144
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0.04
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    4
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    13
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    119
    mg
    40
    %
    Sodium
     
    1036
    mg
    45
    %
    Potassium
     
    572
    mg
    16
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    76
    g
    25
    %
    Fiber
     
    3
    g
    13
    %
    Sugar
     
    10
    g
    11
    %
    Protein
     
    44
    g
    88
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    1453
    IU
    29
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    3
    mg
    4
    %
    Calcium
     
    869
    mg
    87
    %
    Iron
     
    3
    mg
    17
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    More Easy Pasta Recipes

    • Bucatini all'Amatriciana.
      Easy Bucatini all'Amatriciana Recipe
    • Spinach and blue cheese pasta
      Creamy Spinach and Blue Cheese Pasta
    • cheesy pasta with a breadcrumb topping.
      Easy Cheesy Pasta Recipe
    • Creamy chicken pesto pasta.
      Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Toni

      July 05, 2022 at 1:37 pm

      5 stars
      Everyone at my house really loved it! A new favorite for my kids!

      Reply
    2. Kathryn

      July 05, 2022 at 1:52 pm

      5 stars
      This mac and cheese was delicious! I could eat this every day and the bacon pieces took this to the next level. SO yummy!

      Reply
    3. Ieva

      July 05, 2022 at 2:28 pm

      5 stars
      Wow, this was amazing! Three types of cheese plus bacon and pasta in one dish? It doesn't get much better! Ultimate comfort food! So cheesy and delicious!

      Reply
    4. Catherine

      July 05, 2022 at 2:43 pm

      5 stars
      There's nothing I love more than a dressed up mac n' cheese dish. This looks absolutely delicious...so creamy and flavorful. The best comfort food!

      Reply
    5. Michelle

      July 07, 2022 at 10:30 pm

      5 stars
      Bacon and mac and cheese are a match made in heaven. I love this simple weeknight dish!

      Reply
    5 from 10 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Beth!

    Mum of three (and two crazy dogs), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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