Bacon Jalapeño Macaroni and Cheese
Servings 6
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta
- 1/2 lb bacon I used Cherry wood smoked bacon
- 1-2 jalapenos diced
- 3 tablespoon butter
- 1/3 cup flour
- 3 cups half n half
- 2 cups cheddar cheese
- 1 cup pepper jack cheese
- 1 cup Mozzarella cheese
- 1-2 teaspoon Salt according to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Panko topping
- 3/4 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup shredded parmesan
- 3 tablespoons butter melted
Instructions
- Cook pasta 2 minutes under al dente. (It will cook more in the oven) strain and set aside.
- In a small bowl with melted butter add Panko crumbs, parmesan cheese and butter mix and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Chop raw bacon up into bite size pieces. Heat a skillet on medium high heat and cook bacon until crispy and let drain on paper towels.
- In same cast iron skillet, drain all but 3 tablespoon bacon fat. Add butter, diced jalapeno and cook just until soft about 1 minute. Add flour and whisk together for about 30 seconds to cook the flour a bit. Reduce heat and add half n half and whisk until all clumps are out.
- Turn off heat and add shredded cheese and cooked bacon and whisk until combined. Add cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and mix. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour mac n cheese into a baking dish, or leave in cast iron skillet fold in mozzarella cheese and top with Panko crumbs.
- Bake for 20 minutes