Bacon-Cheddar Baked Macaroni

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A crowd-pleasing macaroni and cheese with crispy bacon and a melty cheese sauce. This American-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs elbow macaroni, bacon, butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 30 min Serves 6 American cuisine 450 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook 12 oz elbow macaroni according to package directions until al dente, then drain.
  2. Step 2: In a skillet, cook 4 slices bacon, diced, over medium heat until crisp (5 minutes). Remove bacon with slotted spoon, leaving 1 tbsp bacon fat in skillet.
  3. Step 3: Melt 2 tbsp butter in skillet over medium heat. Whisk in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux.
  4. Step 4: Gradually whisk in 2 cups milk until smooth, then simmer for 3 minutes until sauce thickens.
  5. Step 5: Stir in 2 cups shredded cheddar and 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella until melted. Remove from heat and stir in cooked macaroni and 4 slices bacon.
  6. Step 6: Transfer mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Mix 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs with 1 tbsp melted butter and sprinkle over top.
  7. Step 7: Bake for 20-25 minutes until bubbly and topping is golden.

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