Macaroni and cheese

Macaroni and cheese: Celebrate Mac and cheese day on 14 July. Image: Irene Muller.

Macaroni and cheese with bacon for a classic family dinner

Cooking for your family should be simple but also very tasty. This macaroni and cheese with bacon is the TV dinner you’ve been looking for.

Macaroni and cheese

Macaroni and cheese: Celebrate Mac and cheese day on 14 July. Image: Irene Muller.

Whether you’re already a fan or always see it on lists of iconic American dishes, mac & cheese always has a hold on somebody. You can make a simple family dinner with just a few ingredients and come out with something absolutely delicious, and yes, bacon makes a difference. This macaroni and cheese with bacon is so easy to make that it’s also something to help teach the kids to make early so that you can also be surprised for dinner.

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Macaroni and cheese with bacon tips

You’ll never use packaged mac & cheese mixes ever again. The cheese element is creamy and sticks to the pasta thanks to the addition of the extra pasta water. The bacon adds some fat and saltiness but you can also add a pinch of paprika for some extra punch. Remember to not overcook the pasta because it will cook further in the oven. The bread crumbs will add more texture to the dish and help with browning, making it look as tasty as it is.

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Cooking for your family should be simple but also very tasty. This macaroni and cheese with bacon is the TV dinner you’ve been looking for.

Last updated on 31 July 2023

Macaroni and cheese with bacon recipe

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Irene Muller Course: MainCuisine: GlobalDifficulty: Easy
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

30

minutes
Total time

45

minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups 2 grated cheddar cheese

  • 4 4 eggs

  • 1 litre 1 milk

  • 250 g 250 bacon

  • 2-3 2-3 tomatoes (optional)

  • parsley

  • bread crumbs

  • 500 g 500 Macaroni

  • salt and pepper

Method

  • Boil the macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain in a colander, and reserve some of the cooking liquid.
  • Grease a casserole dish with butter and sprinkle with bread crumbs.
  • In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs and milk together and season to taste. You can add a little of the cooking liquid leftover from the cooking pasta, not more than 100 ml.  
  • Add 1½ cups of grated cheese to the mixture.
  • Tip the pasta mixture into the buttered casserole dish that is sprinkled with crumbs.
  • Place sliced tomatoes (optional) on the top of the dish, season and sprinkle with parsley and little crumbs.
  • Place strips or cubes of bacon on top and add the rest of the cheese over the top.
  • Bake in the oven at 180°C for 30 minutes or until set.
  • Serve with a salad of your choice

Notes

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