Name: Bacon Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 16 servings
Ingredients: 6 cups uncooked elbow macaroni; 1 pound bacon strips, chopped; 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced; 3 cups 2% milk; 2 cups shredded pepper Jack cheese; 1 package (8 ounces) Velveeta, cubed; 1 cup shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; Dash hot pepper sauce; 3 green onions, chopped

This bacon mac and cheese features a blend of jalapeños, scallions and four different cheeses. It’s creamy, comforting and hearty, making it an absolute winner on any spread.

Ingredients

6 cups uncooked elbow macaroni

1 pound bacon strips, chopped

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

3 cups 2% milk

2 cups shredded pepper Jack cheese

1 package (8 ounces) Velveeta, cubed

1 cup shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Dash hot pepper sauce

3 green onions, chopped

Instructions

1 Boil the macaroni

2 Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Editor’s Tip: Boil the noodles until slightly tender, so they still have a bite after being covered with cheese sauce and baked in the oven. (We prefer our pasta al dente.)

3 Make the bacon mac and cheese sauce

4 Heat a Dutch oven on medium heat. Add your chopped bacon and cook until crisp. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon from the pan and set it aside to drain on a paper towel-lined plate. In the same pan, sauté the diced jalapeños in the bacon drippings until they reach a tender texture. In the same Dutch oven pour the milk and sprinkle in the shredded cheese. Stir the sauce consistently until it’s smooth. Season the cheese sauce with onion powder, chili powder, salt, pepper, and hot pepper sauce. Mix the cooked macaroni, bacon, and diced scallions into the cheese sauce.

5 Bake the bacon mac and cheese

6 Transfer the bacon mac and cheese to a 13x9-inch baking dish. Cover it with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Afterward, uncover the mac and cheese and continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes or until it becomes golden brown.