Bacon Burger Mac N Cheese Food

MAC 'N CHEESE WITH BACON AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the macaroni and cook for 8 to 9 minutes, until al dente. Drain.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a small saucepan heat the milk with the thyme sprigs and 2 garlic cloves. Melt the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, to keep lumps from forming. Strain the solids out of the milk and whisk it into the butter and flour mixture. Continue to whisk vigorously, and cook until the mixture is nice and smooth. Stir in the 4 cups of the cheese and continue to cook and stir to melt the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cooked macaroni and the parsley and fold that all in to coat the macaroni with the cheese mixture. Scrape into a 3-quart baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining 1 1/2 cups cheese. Bake for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
• While that bakes, heat a saute pan. Add the bacon, render the fat and cook until crispy. Add onion, garlic and thyme leaves and cook for about 5 minutes to soften the onion. Season with salt and pepper.
• To serve, scatter the bacon mixture over the mac and cheese. Use a big spoon to scoop out servings, making sure you get some of the smoking bacon mixture on each spoonful.

JALAPENO BACON CHEESEBURGER MAC

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over a medium heat. When the skillet is hot, add the bacon and cook until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease from the skillet and place back on the heat.
• Add the onion, jalapenos and garlic to the skillet and stir. Add the ground chuck and season with salt and pepper. Cook the meat, crumbling as you go, until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for about 30 seconds.
• Add the macaroni, broth, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Give it a big stir and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook, stirring often, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce has thickened, about 10 minutes. Stir in the Cheddar. Sprinkle over the cooked bacon, parsley and pickled jalapenos, if using. Remove from the heat and serve.

BACON CHEESEBURGER MACARONI

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions. Keep warm.
• In a large skillet, cook the diced bacon until crisp, pour off all but aboaut a half tablespoon of bacon grease.
• Add ground beef and green onions and cook together until beef is thoroughly cooked through.
• Stir in chili powder, salt, and liquid smoke and cook for about 5 minutes.
• Add ketchup, mustard, and tomatoes and stir until well combined.
• Stir in cooked macaroni and shredded cheese.
• Cook over low heat for about 5 minutes until cheese is melted and everything is heated through.