Baked Smoked Bacon Gouda Mac and Cheese

Grown-Up Baked Smoked Bacon Gouda Macaroni and Cheese is a delicious spin on traditional mac and cheese. Ordinary mac and cheese is transformed into a crunchy and gooey sensation! This dish is made with creamy cheddar and gouda cheese and topped with toasted breadcrumbs. This dish makes the perfect side-dish for any occasion.

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Regular mac and cheese is awesome. Bacon gouda mac and cheese is EPIC! I am still on holiday break from work. I have probably spent 50% of my time off in the kitchen. I can’t help myself! I love to cook.

I had leftover bacon from another Christmas dish, Dutch Oven Skin-On Mashed Potatoes with Bacon. I decided to throw the bacon in this recipe. I also LOVE gouda in my mac and cheese. I go back and forth with using it because I like to switch up the cheese I use.  This recipe was perfect! It made an amazing side dish for New Years Day dinner.

You can switch up the cheese you use in this recipe if you wish. This is my preferred combination, but that can definitely be tweaked.

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5 from 23 votes

Baked Smoked Bacon Gouda Mac and Cheese

Grown-Up Baked Smoked Bacon Gouda Macaroni and Cheese is a delicious spin on traditional mac and cheese. Ordinary mac and cheese is transformed into a crunchy and gooey sensation! This dish is made with creamy cheddar and gouda cheese and topped with toasted breadcrumbs. This dish makes the perfect side-dish.

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Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword bacon gouda mac and cheese, bacon mac and cheese, bacon macaroni and cheese

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 10

Calories 367kcal

Author Brandi Crawford

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
• 1 cup parmigiano reggiano shredded
• 1 cup fontina cheese shredded
• 2 cups gouda cheese shredded
• 1/2 cup muenster cheese cut into small chunks
• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 3-4 cups of milk use judgement here
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 sliced of bacon cooked and crumbled
• 2 tablespoons bread crumbs I prefer whole wheat
• salt pepper, and onion powder to taste

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Boil a large pot with salted water over high heat.
• Add the macaroni and cook for about 5 minutes.
• Drain the macaroni and rinse with cold water. This is important. You want the pasta to cool so that it does not continue to cook. The pasta will cook again while baking in the oven. Over-cooked pasta results in a terrible texture.
• Heat a sauce pan on medium heat. Add the butter and allow it to melt.
• Once melted, add the flour and whisk.
• This will create a slurry. Continue to whisk until the four is fully combined.
• Add the milk and stir.
• Add half of the cheese and stir until the cheese is melted.
• Add the seasonings and taste repeatedly.
• Return the pasta to the large pot. Drizzle the liquid mixture over the pasta and stir until fully combined.
• Spray a baking pan with cooking spray.
• Begin to layer in the pasta. Start with the pasta, then add a layer of all of the shredded cheese and muenster chunks.
• Add another layer of pasta, and then another layer of cheese.
• Ensure there is adequate liquid throughout these steps (additional milk or reserved pasta water work well). This can be tricky. You do not want the dish to appear like soup, but you do not want it to be dry.
• This step is important because without adequate liquid the dish will dry out while baking.
• Top with the bacon.
• Sprinkle the breadcrumbs throughout.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes.
• Cool before serving.

Notes

If you’re making this for a crowd, I wouldn’t make it ahead. This is a dish that’s best served fresh while the cheese is still soft and gooey. After making it, I leave it in the oven on warm and covered in foil.

I also wouldn’t prep it in advance. This will ruin the texture of the cheese.

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9×13 Baking Dish

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Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)

Calories: 367kcal

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Nutrition DataMacros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.