One-Pot Bacon Mac & Cheese

Submitted by Food.com

"Cheesy, gooey perfection made easy in only one pot."

 

• Ready In: 30mins
• Ingredients: 12
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 4 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped (about 1/2 pound)
• 1 lb cavatappi pasta
• kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, coarsely grated (about 2 cups, packed)
• 6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, coarsely grated (about 2 cups, packed)
• 3 ounces Fontina cheese, coarsely grated (about 1 cup, packed)
• 3 ounces cream cheese
• 1⁄3 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon mustard powder
• 3⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, plus additional for serving, if desired
• handful chives, chopped

directions

1. Add bacon to a 5 1/2 quart Dutch oven over medium-heat and cook, stirring, until crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside.
2. Add pasta to pot with the rendered bacon fat. Add 4 cups water and one teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook, stirring frequently, until pasta is just tender and a small amount of water still remains, about 7 minutes.
3. Add mozzarella, cheddar, fontina, cream cheese, milk, butter, mustard powder, and cayenne. Reduce heat to low, stirring until cheese is melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and serve immediately, garnished with reserved bacon, chives, and additional cayenne, if desired.

Reviews

[Donna]

Tasted good, but I needed to add additional milk while melting the cheese. It probably totaled about one cup by the end. I used gemelli and it held the cheese well. Will make again.

 

[danlw]

hi all, just made the dish...super! added bacon fat and brown mushrooms...only had cheddar and cream cheese...they worked...going back for seconds...thanks for sharing this one. 5 stars in my book. dw

 

[Wl C.]

It is best to melt the cheese off of the heat...i preferred to add more cheddar and skipped the mozzarella. Awesome!!!

 

[artmachine]

Delicious and creamy!

 

[terencedukoker]

It was great thanks