Potluck Bacon Mac Cheese Food

POTLUCK MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions for al dente; drain. Transfer to a greased 5-qt. slow cooker. Stir in remaining ingredients., Cook, covered, on low 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until a thermometer reads at least 160°, stirring once.

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.

BEER BACON MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring an 8 qt covered pot filled with water to a boil over high heat. Once it boils, add a handful of salt and pasta. Reduce heat to medium high and cook uncovered to al dente (has a bite to it). Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat a large 12" skillet over medium-high. Using clean kitchen shears cut bacon into bite-size pieces over the skillet and let them to fall into the pan. Stir occasionally as needed. Cook until crisp.
• Once bacon is cooked through, remove bacon to a bowl with a slotted spoon. Reserve 2 Tbsp of bacon drippings and discard the rest. Wipe the side of the skillet to avoid flame ups.
• Pour reserved bacon drippings back into the skillet over medium heat and add butter.
• Once the butter is melted add flour and whisk to combine. Cook for 2-3 minutes to allow the flour-y taste to cook off.
• Add spices, beer and chicken broth. Whisk to combine. Allow to come to boil for 3 minutes, whisking occasionally to help pick up the bits on the bottom of the pan.
• Add milk. Whisk to combine. Bring back to a bubble. Once you see the first few bubbles in the pan remove from heat and add cooked bacon, Worchershire and cheese. Stir to combine.
• Add pasta to sauce and stir to combine. Cook pasta in sauce for 5 minutes over medium heat until sauce thickens and the pasta has a chance to absorb some of the sauce.
• Pour into a casserole dish and sprinkle with chives and serve.
• NOTES from Author of recipe Donna Elick :.
• Recipe may be doubled. Simply use 2x the ingredients and follow cooking directions.
• The sauce will thicken as it cools. If the sauce is too thick, add milk a few tablespoons at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
• Reheat instructions: Add pasta to pot with milk. Heat until warmed through, adding 1/4 cup of milk at a time until desired constancy is reached.
• Freezing instructions: Allow pasta to come to room temperature. Place in resealable plastic bag or container. If using a container press a small piece of plastic wrap over top to avoid freezer burn. Will keep for up to 6 months. To reheat, that pasta and follow reheat instructions.

CROCK POT BACON MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Spray crock well with cooking spray. In a mixing bowl, whip egg and milk together. Stir in spices.
• Add cheese and noodles, and stir well to combine. Pour the mixture into the crock pot.
• It will be very liquidy.
• Cover and cook on low for 2-5 hours, or on high for 1-3. The cooking time will vary depending on what size crockpot you are using, and how quickly it heats and cooks. I was quite surprised at how quickly our pasta got fork-tender.

BACON MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions., Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels; drain, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings. Saute jalapeno in reserved drippings. Add milk and cheeses to pan; cook and stir until blended. Stir in the onion powder, chili powder, salt, pepper and pepper sauce. , Drain macaroni; add to pan with the onions and cooked bacon. Mix well. , Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 10-15 minutes longer or until heated through.

SLOW-COOKER BACON MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk the first 6 ingredients until blended. Stir in pasta and cheeses; transfer to a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker., Cook, covered, on low until pasta is tender, 3 to 3-1/2 hours. Turn off slow cooker; remove insert. Let stand, uncovered, 15 minutes before serving. Top with bacon.