Bacon Gouda Mac and Cheese (40 min) • Zona Cooks

Bacon Gouda Mac and Cheese is delicious, quick, and easy, ready in about 30 minutes.

This recipe is loaded with your favorite shaped pasta or macaroni, smoked gouda cheese, white cheddar cheese, and seasonings, and is topped with crisp crumbled bacon. Serves 2-4 people.

What is the best way to cook bacon?

Place the bacon on a parchment paper lined or foil-lined baking sheet and put it in a cold oven. Set the heat to 425 degrees F and turn on the oven. When the oven reaches 425 the bacon should be done. It may need another minute or two depending on your oven. The slow temperature rise allows for rendering more fat from the bacon.

Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese with Bacon in a casserole dish. — Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese with Bacon

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Equipment needed for this recipe

How to make Bacon Gouda Mac and Cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a saucepan, cook pasta according to package directions, or until al dente.

At the same time, in a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat.

Whisk in the flour until well combined.

Then slowly add in heavy cream. Stir and let the mixture come up to a slight boil.

heavy cream whisked into flour mixture in a pan.

Stir in the smoked paprika, black pepper, ground mustard, and garlic powder.

seasonings stirred into heavy cream mixture in a pan.

Lastly, add in the white cheddar cheese and half of the smoked gouda. Stir until all the cheese has melted.

Drain the pasta and mix into the cheese sauce until well coated. Season with salt if needed.

shell pasta mixed into cheese mixture in a pan.

Transfer the mixture to the two lightly greased baking dishes.

cheesy macaroni poured into a casserole dish.

Top with the remaining smoked gouda cheese all over the dish.

shredded cheese sprinkled onto macaroni and cheese in a baking dish.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until mac and cheese is golden and bubbly.

Add the cooked crumbled bacon on top and serve.

Gouda Mac and Cheese with Bacon in a baking dish. — Gouda Mac and Cheese with Bacon

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Yield: Serves 2-4

Bacon Gouda Mac and Cheese

Bacon Gouda Mac and Cheese is delicious, quick and easy, ready in about 30 minutes. This recipe is loaded with your favorite shaped pasta or macaroni, smoked gouda cheese, white cheddar cheese, seasonings, and topped with crisp crumbled bacon.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Bake Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

6 ounces macaroni (or your favorite pasta shape)
4 ounces smoked gouda cheese, grated and divided
2 ounces white cheddar cheese, grated
2 Tablespoons butter
1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt to taste
2 slices of bacon (cooked and crumbled)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a sauce pan, cook pasta according to package directions, or until al dente.
At the same time, in a large sauce pan, melt the butter over medium-low heat.
Whisk in the flour until well combined.
Then slowly add in heavy cream. Stir and let mixture come up to a slight boil.
Stir in the smoked paprika, black pepper, ground mustard, garlic powder.
Lastly, add in the white cheddar cheese and half of the smoked gouda. Stir until all the cheese has melted.
Drain the pasta and mix into the cheese sauce until well coated. Season with salt if needed.
Transfer mixture into the two 18.6-ounce lightly greased baking dishes, then top with the remaining smoked gouda cheese all over dish.
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until mac and cheese is golden and bubbly.
Add the cooked crumbled bacon on top and serve.

Notes

To cook bacon - Place the bacon on a parchment paper lined or foil lined baking sheet and put it in a cold oven. Set the heat for 425 degrees F and turn on the oven. When the oven reaches 425 the bacon should be done. It may need another minute or two depending on your oven. The slow temperature rise allows rendering more fat from the bacon.