Smoky Bacon Mac-N-Cheese

MarthaStewartWanabe's Note:

I took my All-American Macaroni and Cheese recipe and turned the amplifier up to 11. Smoked mozzarella gives this dish just the right amount of smoky flavor and luscious, gooey-stretchy cheese texture. The addition of smoky, crumbled bacon is a bonus as well as a hint of sweetness from caramelizing the onions. My family thoroughly enjoyed this version of mac-n-cheese. It is definitely a fantastic once-in-a-while treat well worth every cheesy calorie.

• Total Time: 55 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 2 cups macaroni
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, ground
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 cup smoked mozzarella cheese, shredded (or smoked gouda if unavailable)
• 6 slices bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. While making cheese mixture, cook macaroni per package instructions. Drain and set aside.
3. Bring a skillet to medium heat. Add bacon and fry both sides until crisp. Drain on a paper towel and crumble. Set aside.
4. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Cook onion and garlic in butter until lightly caramelized (light brown but not crisp). Add flour to saucepan and stir to combine, leaving no dry flour bits. Add milk all at once to saucepan along with black pepper. Stir constantly until mixture begins to thicken. Stir in cheddar cheese first (one cup at a time) until melted. Then stir in mozzarella until mixture is smooth.
5. Place cooked macaroni in a 2-quart casserole dish. Stir in cheese mixture and half of the bacon until evenly distributed. Then sprinkle the top with the remaining bacon.
6. Bake for 30 minutes or until top is lightly browned.
7. Cool, serve and enjoy!