Grown-Up Mac & Cheese

Comfort food for grown-ups that combines a flavorful mixture of cheeses with pancetta to create a wonderful robust flavor. This is a good foods recipe from Good Housekeeping. This recipe makes 2 main-course servings or 4 side servings.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 6  ounces  mini penne (or small shell pasta)
• 1  ounce pancetta, cut into 1/4 inch pieces
•  olive oil
• 2  tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1  cup reduced-fat milk
• 4  ounces Fontina cheese, shredded (1 cup)
• 1⁄4 cup  plus 2 tablespoons romano cheese, freshly grated
• 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper, freshly ground
• 2  tablespoons panko breadcrumbs (Japanese bread crumbs)

Directions

1. Heat covered 4-quart saucepan of salted water to boiling on high. Add pasta and cook as label directs.
2. Meanwhile, preheat broiler. In 3-quart saucepan, cook pancetta on medium 5 minutes or until browned; with slotted spoon, transfer pancetta to paper towels to drain.
3. Add enough oil to drippings in pan to equal 1 tablespoon; whisk in flour and cook 30 seconds, whisking constantly. Gradually whisk in milk and heat to boiling on medium-high, stirring frequently. Boil 1 minute, stirring. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in Fontina cheese, 1/4 cup Romano cheese, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper until cheese melts. In cup, combine remaining Romano with panko.
4. Drain pasta well. Stir pasta and pancetta into cheese mixture until evenly coated. Spoon mixture into 4-cup shallow gratin dish or 9-inch pie plate. Sprinkle with panko mixture.
5. Place dish on rack in bottom third of oven and broil 3 to 6 minutes or until browned.