Did you know that July 7th is National Macaroni Day? Americans have found many ingenious ways to consume the macaroni noodle, but the all-time favorite has got to be Mac ‘n Cheese. Growing up, many of us ate mac ‘n cheese that came from a magical blue box labeled “Kraft,” and we yummed it up like it was going out of style. But as adults, most of us prefer mac ‘n cheese made from scratch rather than a box. Because if you’re going to eat empty calories, they’d better be some of the best empty calories you’ve ever tasted.
Despite the heat of summer, mac ‘n cheese is still a favorite summer side dish. That’s because it is so addictive; when you want it, it doesn’t matter what the temperature is. You’re going to turn that oven on and satisfy your craving for cheesy, pasta-y goodness. These recipes aren’t low-fat, no indeed. “Light” mac ‘n cheese is about as pointless as low-fat chocolate. If you’re going to indulge, you’d might as well go all the way overboard.
It’s no secret that bacon is the perfect addition to mac ‘n cheese, and the number of bacon mac ‘n cheese recipes on the Internet is astounding. I’ve found 5 uniquely different, magnificently indulgent bacon mac ‘n cheese recipes to help you celebrate National Macaroni Day. Which one will you try first?
#5. Smoked Jalapeno Mac ‘n Cheese from omfgsogood.com
Green things are only allowed in mac ‘n cheese if they’re jalapenos. No other green things will be tolerated! I mean it! This recipe has jalapenos that are smoked over hickory chips, then wrapped in bacon, perfect for those who like some spiciness in their mac ‘n cheese.
#4. Stove Top Beer and Bacon Mac ‘n Cheese from TheBeeroness.com
And the only alcohol allowed in mac ‘n cheese is beer. This recipe uses a bit of quality brew and cheddar cheese. And bacon, of course. Think about it—these things work together. Heck yeah they do!
#3. Bacon and Macaroni Cheese Pie from HarrisburgMagazine.com
Although it’s not technically a mac ‘n cheese recipe, this bacon-weaved mac ‘n cheese pie is, dare we say it, epic? Epic, without going too overboard. This would make quite the impression at your next potluck!
#2. BBQ Chicken and Smoked Gouda & Bacon Mac ‘n Cheese from BakeaholicMama.com
Smoked gouda is one of my favorite cheeses. Add some bbq chicken in there and you’ve got a meal that’s a one-dish wonder. Doesn’t this just epitomize indulgent?
#1. Brown Butter and Bacon Mac ‘n Cheese from LemonyThyme.com
Beer and bacon weaves have their place, but sometimes you just want a classic mac ‘n cheese recipe that doesn’t involve a lot of experimentation. This recipe uses 1 lb of your preferred choice of cheese and has a crunchy panko topping for those who like a breaded topping.
Credit: LemonyThyme.com
This is a fantastic list of recipes. Shredded sharp cheddar cheese can instantly enhance any traditional mac and cheese dish, but bacon can make it even better. Bacon Mac and Cheese is the perfect combination of tasteful flavors. This is the ultimate comfort food.