Macaroni N Cheese Recipe (With Bacon and Broccoli)
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Recipe type: Main Dish
 
Try this yummy Mac & Cheese!
Ingredients
  • • 3-4 slices of bacon, cooked
  • • 5-6 ounces freshly grated cheddar cheese [see below]
  • • 3 cups broccoli florets, steamed or blanched
  • • 8 oz pasta [measured by weight]
  • • ¼ cup [1/2 stick] unsalted butter
  • • ¼ cup all purpose flour
  • • 2 cups whole milk, room temperature
  • • ¼ tsp salt
  • • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • • ⅛ tsp black pepper
  • • Season with additional salt and pepper to taste, if desired
Instructions
  1. • Pre-heat oven to 350
  2. • Next measure out all your ingredients, chop your broccoli and grate your cheeses.
  3. • Boil pasta per package instructions [times will vary a smidge by brand/shape] until al dente. Drain and set aside once done.
  4. • While the pasta cooks, start your sauce and your broccoli.
  5. • Cook broccoli via your favorite method. I'm a big fan of quickly blanching broccoli in hot water until the florets are bright green and tender.
  6. • For the sauce, melt ½ stick of butter [1/4 cup] over medium heat.
  7. • Add flour and whisk constantly while the flour cooks off into a roux, approx. 3 minutes..
  8. • Next season with ¼ tsp salt and ⅛ tsp black pepper [add extra to taste]
  9. • Slowly pour in your milk, whisking constantly until smooth and fully incorporated. Remove from heat. Sauce will thicken as it rests.
  10. • Add pasta and broccoli florets to a 9-inch baking dish [or larger]
  11. • Sprinkle 5-6 ounces of freshly grated cheese on top of the pasta.
  12. • Pour your cream sauce over the noodles and cheese and use a rubber spatula to fold it all together. Feel free to top with a little extra cheese if you'd like, then top with bacon.
  13. • Bake on center rack at 350 F for 20 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Recipe by A Frugal Chick at https://www.afrugalchick.com/macaroni-n-cheese-recipe/