Mac and Cheese with Bacon

Name: Mac and Cheese with Bacon
Total time: 52 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: american
Ingredients: as needed Water; to taste Salt; 350 g Dried macaroni; 200 g Smoked streaky bacon; 50 g Unsalted butter; 50 g Plain flour; 700 ml Whole milk; 150 ml Double cream; 1 tsp English mustard; 0.5 tsp Smoked paprika; 0.5 tsp Fine salt; 0.25 tsp Freshly ground black pepper; 200 g Mature cheddar; 100 g Gruyère; 30 g Parmesan; 30 g Panko breadcrumbs

1 hr 45 min · 55 min active · makes ~1.9 kg · Medium · American

A deeply satisfying baked pasta dish built on a rich, triple-cheese sauce — mature Cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan — sharpened with English mustard and smoked paprika, folded through macaroni with crisp bacon lardons, and finished under a golden panko crust. It sits firmly in comfort-food territory: creamy and substantial, with enough textural contrast from the topping to keep every mouthful interesting.

Mac and Cheese with Bacon

TOTAL TIME

1 hr 45 min

ACTIVE TIME

55 min

QUANTITY

~1.9 kg

DIFFICULTY

Medium

CUISINE

American

Who’s eating

Ingredients0/16

Tools0/9

Ingredients

0/16 gathered · 4 servings

as needed

to taste

350g

200g

50g

700ml

150ml

1tsp

0.5tsp

0.25tsp

200g

100g

30g

#	Quantity	Notes	State
1	as needed	—	—
2	to taste	—	—
3	350g	—	—
4	200g	—	—
5	50g	—	—
6	50g	—	—
7	700ml	—	—
8	150ml	—	—
9	1tsp	—	—
10	0.5tsp	—	—
11	0.5tsp	—	—
12	0.25tsp	—	—
13	200g	—	—
14	100g	—	—
15	30g	—	—
16	30g	—	—

Tools

9 items

Hygiene

Wash your hands after the raw bacon.

Procedure

41 steps

1 of 41

Preheat

200°C

⏱ 10 min

2 of 41

Add the water to the stockpot

Water · as needed

⏱ 1 min

ResultWater

3 of 41

Add salt

generously to the water

Salt · to taste

⏱ 30s

ResultSalt water

4 of 41

Bring the salt water to a boil

rolling boil

high heat

⏱ 8 min

ResultSalt and water mixture

5 of 41

Add the dried macaroni to the stockpot

Dried macaroni · 350 g

⏱ 20s

ResultDried macaroni and salt mixture

6 of 41

Boil the dried macaroni and salt mixture

high heat

⏱ 7 min

ResultBoiled macaroni

7 of 41

Drain the boiled macaroni

⏱ 1 min

ResultDrained macaroniused in step 32

8 of 41

Chop the smoked streaky bacon

Smoked streaky bacon · 200 g

⏱ 2 min

ResultBacon lardonsused in step 10

9 of 41

Preheat the frying pan

medium heat

⏱ 1 min

ResultHot frying pan

10 of 41

Add the bacon lardons to the frying pan

Bacon lardons · step 8

⏱ 20s

ResultBacon lardons

11 of 41

Pan-fry the bacon lardons

golden and crisp

medium heat

⏱ 5 min

ResultCrispy bacon

12 of 41

Transfer the crispy bacon from the frying pan onto the plate

Crispy bacon · step 11

⏱ 20s

ResultCrispy baconused in step 33

13 of 41

Wash your hands with soap — you've been handling raw bacon

⏱ 30s

14 of 41

Add the unsalted butter to the frying pan

Unsalted butter · 50 g

⏱ 20s

ResultUnsalted butter

15 of 41

Melt the unsalted butter

medium heat

⏱ 1 min

ResultMelted unsalted butter

16 of 41

Add the plain flour to the frying pan

Plain flour · 50 g

⏱ 20s

ResultFlour roux

17 of 41

Stir the flour roux

flour and butter together for 2 minutes to form roux

⏱ 2 min

ResultRoux

18 of 41

Add the whole milk to the frying pan

Whole milk · 700 ml

⏱ 30s

ResultMilk roux

19 of 41

Whisk the milk roux

Look for

until smooth — gradually pour in milk, whisking constantly

⏱ 2 min

ResultCheese sauce base

20 of 41

Simmer the cheese sauce base

Look for

until sauce coats the back of a spoon — stirring often

medium heat

⏱ 6 min

ResultSimmered plain flour

21 of 41

Add the double cream, english mustard, smoked paprika, fine salt and freshly ground black pepper to the frying pan

Double cream · 150 mlEnglish mustard · 1 tspSmoked paprika · 0.5 tspFine salt · 0.5 tspFreshly ground black pepper · 0.25 tsp

⏱ 1 min

ResultCreamy sauce

22 of 41

Transfer the finished cheese sauce from the frying pan to the kitchen counter

remove the pan from heat

Finished cheese sauce · step 25

⏱ 20s

ResultFinished cheese sauceused in step 29

23 of 41

Grate the mature cheddar

Mature cheddar · 200 g

⏱ 3 min

ResultGrated Cheddarused in step 29

24 of 41

Grate the gruyère

Gruyère · 100 g

⏱ 2 min

ResultGrated Gruyèreused in step 30

25 of 41

Add the finished cheese sauce and grated Cheddar to the frying pan

Finished cheese sauce · step 26 Grated Cheddar · step 27

⏱ 20s

ResultCheese cream sauce

26 of 41

Add the grated Gruyère to the frying pan

Grated Gruyère · step 28

⏱ 20s

ResultThree-cheese sauce

27 of 41

Stir the three-cheese sauce

Look for

until cheeses are fully melted and sauce is smooth

⏱ 1 min

ResultMelted three-cheese sauce

28 of 41

Add the drained macaroni from the stockpot to the frying pan

Drained macaroni · step 7

⏱ 20s

ResultCheese sauce

29 of 41

Add the crispy bacon from the plate to the frying pan

Crispy bacon · step 12

⏱ 20s

ResultCrispy bacon and cheese sauce

30 of 41

Stir the crispy bacon and cheese sauce

Look for

until evenly combined

⏱ 1 min

ResultMac and cheese with baconused in step 38

31 of 41

Wash your hands with soap — you've been handling raw bacon

⏱ 30s

32 of 41

Grate the parmesan

Parmesan · 30 g

⏱ 1 min

ResultGrated Parmesan

33 of 41

Mix the panko breadcrumbs into the grated Parmesan

Panko breadcrumbs · 30 gGrated Parmesan · step 36

⏱ 1 min

ResultParmesan breadcrumb topping

34 of 41

Transfer the mac and cheese with bacon from the frying pan into the baking dish

spread level

Mac and cheese with bacon · step 34

⏱ 1 min

ResultMac and cheese with bacon

35 of 41

Scatter the parmesan breadcrumb topping over the mac and cheese with bacon

Mac and cheese with bacon · step 38

⏱ 1 min

ResultTopped mac and cheese with bacon

36 of 41

Bake the topped mac and cheese with bacon

Look for

until top is golden and sauce is bubbling at the edges

200°C

⏱ 19 min

ResultBaked mac and cheese with bacon

37 of 41

Rest the baked mac and cheese with bacon

⏱ 5 min

ResultMac and Cheese with Bacon

Total Time1 hr 45 min

#	Product	Tool	Action
1	—	200°C	Preheat⏱ 10 min
2	as needed		Add the water to the stockpot⏱ 1 minResultWater
3	to taste		Add salt → generously to the water⏱ 30sResultSalt water
4	—	high heat	Bring the salt water to a boil → rolling boil⏱ 8 minResultSalt and water mixture
5	350 g		Add the dried macaroni to the stockpot⏱ 20sResultDried macaroni and salt mixture
6	—	high heat	Boil the dried macaroni and salt mixture⏱ 7 minResultBoiled macaroni
7	—		Drain the boiled macaroni⏱ 1 minResultDrained macaroniused in step 32
8	200 g		Chop the smoked streaky bacon⏱ 2 minResultBacon lardonsused in step 10
9	—	medium heat	Preheat the frying pan⏱ 1 minResultHot frying pan
10	Bacon lardonsstep 8		Add the bacon lardons to the frying pan⏱ 20sResultBacon lardons
11	—	medium heat	Pan-fry the bacon lardons → golden and crisp⏱ 5 minResultCrispy bacon
12	Crispy baconstep 11		Transfer the crispy bacon from the frying pan onto the plate⏱ 20sResultCrispy baconused in step 33
13	—	—	Wash your hands with soap — you've been handling raw bacon⏱ 30s
14	50 g		Add the unsalted butter to the frying pan⏱ 20sResultUnsalted butter
15	—	medium heat	Melt the unsalted butter⏱ 1 minResultMelted unsalted butter
16	50 g		Add the plain flour to the frying pan⏱ 20sResultFlour roux
17	—		Stir the flour roux → flour and butter together for 2 minutes to form roux⏱ 2 minResultRoux
18	700 ml		Add the whole milk to the frying pan⏱ 30sResultMilk roux
19	—		Whisk the milk rouxLook foruntil smooth — gradually pour in milk, whisking constantly⏱ 2 minResultCheese sauce base
20	—	medium heat	Simmer the cheese sauce baseLook foruntil sauce coats the back of a spoon — stirring often⏱ 6 minResultSimmered plain flour
21	150 ml		Add the double cream, english mustard, smoked paprika, fine salt and freshly ground black pepper to the frying pan⏱ 1 minResultCreamy sauce
	1 tsp
	0.5 tsp
	0.5 tsp
	0.25 tsp
22	Finished cheese saucestep 25		Transfer the finished cheese sauce from the frying pan to the kitchen counter → remove the pan from heat⏱ 20sResultFinished cheese sauceused in step 29
23	200 g		Grate the mature cheddar⏱ 3 minResultGrated Cheddarused in step 29
24	100 g		Grate the gruyère⏱ 2 minResultGrated Gruyèreused in step 30
25	Finished cheese saucestep 26		Add the finished cheese sauce and grated Cheddar to the frying pan⏱ 20sResultCheese cream sauce
25	Grated Cheddarstep 27
26	Grated Gruyèrestep 28		Add the grated Gruyère to the frying pan⏱ 20sResultThree-cheese sauce
27	—		Stir the three-cheese sauceLook foruntil cheeses are fully melted and sauce is smooth⏱ 1 minResultMelted three-cheese sauce
28	Drained macaronistep 7		Add the drained macaroni from the stockpot to the frying pan⏱ 20sResultCheese sauce
29	Crispy baconstep 12		Add the crispy bacon from the plate to the frying pan⏱ 20sResultCrispy bacon and cheese sauce
30	—		Stir the crispy bacon and cheese sauceLook foruntil evenly combined⏱ 1 minResultMac and cheese with baconused in step 38
31	—	—	Wash your hands with soap — you've been handling raw bacon⏱ 30s
32	30 g		Grate the parmesan⏱ 1 minResultGrated Parmesan
33	30 g		Mix the panko breadcrumbs into the grated Parmesan⏱ 1 minResultParmesan breadcrumb topping
33	Grated Parmesanstep 36
34	Mac and cheese with baconstep 34		Transfer the mac and cheese with bacon from the frying pan into the baking dish → spread level⏱ 1 minResultMac and cheese with bacon
35	Mac and cheese with baconstep 38		Scatter the parmesan breadcrumb topping over the mac and cheese with bacon⏱ 1 minResultTopped mac and cheese with bacon
36	—	200°C	Bake the topped mac and cheese with baconLook foruntil top is golden and sauce is bubbling at the edges⏱ 19 minResultBaked mac and cheese with bacon
37	—		Rest the baked mac and cheese with bacon⏱ 5 minResultMac and Cheese with Bacon
Total Time			1 hr 45 min

Nutrition

per serving

Estimated · pre-cooking · 100% ingredients covered

Nutrient	Per serving
	1,314kcal
	56g
	80g
	44g
	92g
	11g
	2g
	1,523mg

Ingredients0/16

Tools0/9

american · Recipe

Mac and Cheese with Bacon

HygieneWash your hands after the raw bacon.

Serves4

Total1 hr 45 min

LevelMedium

Ingredients

Wateras needed
Saltto taste
Dried macaroni350 g
Smoked streaky bacon200 g
Unsalted butter50 g
Plain flour50 g
Whole milk700 ml
Double cream150 ml
English mustard1 tsp
Smoked paprika0.5 tsp
Fine salt0.5 tsp
Freshly ground black pepper0.25 tsp
Mature cheddar200 g
Gruyère100 g
Parmesan30 g
Panko breadcrumbs30 g

Tools

Mixing bowlSpoonFrying panChef's knifeConventional ovenWhiskColanderStockpotGrater

Method

Preheat

200°C10 minConventional oven

Add the water to the stockpot

1 minStockpotWater · as needed

Add salt → generously to the water

30sStockpotSalt · to taste

Bring the salt water to a boil → rolling boil

high heat8 minStockpot

Add the dried macaroni to the stockpot

20sStockpotDried macaroni · 350 g

Boil the dried macaroni and salt mixture

high heat7 minStockpot

Drain the boiled macaroni

Result · Drained macaroni · used in step 32

1 minColander

Chop the smoked streaky bacon

Result · Bacon lardons · used in step 10

2 minChefs knifeSmoked streaky bacon · 200 g

Preheat the frying pan

medium heat1 minFrying pan

Add the bacon lardons to the frying pan

20sFrying panBacon lardons · step 8

Pan-fry the bacon lardons → golden and crisp

medium heat5 minFrying pan

Transfer the crispy bacon from the frying pan onto the plate

Result · Crispy bacon · used in step 33

20sSpoonCrispy bacon · step 11

Add the unsalted butter to the frying pan

20sFrying panUnsalted butter · 50 g

Melt the unsalted butter

medium heat1 minFrying pan

Add the plain flour to the frying pan

20sFrying panPlain flour · 50 g

Stir the flour roux → flour and butter together for 2 minutes to form roux

2 minSpoon

Add the whole milk to the frying pan

30sFrying panWhole milk · 700 ml

Whisk the milk rouxLook foruntil smooth — gradually pour in milk, whisking constantly

2 minWhisk

Simmer the cheese sauce baseLook foruntil sauce coats the back of a spoon — stirring often

medium heat6 minFrying pan

Add the double cream, english mustard, smoked paprika, fine salt and freshly ground black pepper to the frying pan

1 minFrying panDouble cream · 150 mlEnglish mustard · 1 tspSmoked paprika · 0.5 tspFine salt · 0.5 tspFreshly ground black pepper · 0.25 tsp

Transfer the finished cheese sauce from the frying pan to the kitchen counter → remove the pan from heat

Result · Finished cheese sauce · used in step 29

20sKitchen counterFinished cheese sauce · step 25

Grate the mature cheddar

Result · Grated Cheddar · used in step 29

3 minGraterMature cheddar · 200 g

Grate the gruyère

Result · Grated Gruyère · used in step 30

2 minGraterGruyère · 100 g

Add the finished cheese sauce and grated Cheddar to the frying pan

20sFrying panFinished cheese sauce · step 26Grated Cheddar · step 27

Add the grated Gruyère to the frying pan

20sFrying panGrated Gruyère · step 28

Stir the three-cheese sauceLook foruntil cheeses are fully melted and sauce is smooth

1 minSpoon

Add the drained macaroni from the stockpot to the frying pan

20sFrying panDrained macaroni · step 7

Add the crispy bacon from the plate to the frying pan

20sFrying panCrispy bacon · step 12

Stir the crispy bacon and cheese sauceLook foruntil evenly combined

Result · Mac and cheese with bacon · used in step 38

1 minSpoon

Grate the parmesan

1 minGraterParmesan · 30 g

Mix the panko breadcrumbs into the grated Parmesan

1 minMixing bowlPanko breadcrumbs · 30 g

Transfer the mac and cheese with bacon from the frying pan into the baking dish → spread level

1 minSpoonMac and cheese with bacon · step 34

Scatter the parmesan breadcrumb topping over the mac and cheese with bacon

1 minSpoonMac and cheese with bacon · step 38

Bake the topped mac and cheese with baconLook foruntil top is golden and sauce is bubbling at the edges

200°C19 minConventional oven

Rest the baked mac and cheese with bacon

Result · Mac and Cheese with Bacon

5 minMixing bowl

Printed 3 September 2026