Texas-Style Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese with Crispy Bacon

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.

Creamy macaroni and cheese with a smoky Gouda cheese blend, topped with crispy bacon for a decadent comfort food classic. This American-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 65 minutes, pairs elbow macaroni, smoked Gouda cheese, shredded, sharp cheddar cheese, shredded for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 780 calories and feeds 4, 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: 25 min Cook: 40 min Serves 4 American cuisine 780 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Nonstick skillets worth buying → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Bakeware & baking tools → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Cook 8 oz elbow macaroni in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, about 8 minutes, then drain and set aside.
  2. Step 2: While macaroni cooks, cook 4 oz bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, then remove and crumble, reserving 1 tbsp bacon fat.
  3. Step 3: In the same skillet, melt 2 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp reserved bacon fat over medium heat, then whisk in 3 tbsp all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute until golden.
  4. Step 4: Slowly whisk in 2 cups milk and 1/2 tsp garlic powder, then simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes.
  5. Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup shredded smoked Gouda, 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp paprika until melted and smooth.
  6. Step 6: Add the drained macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir until coated, then transfer to a baking dish. Top with crumbled bacon and bake at 375°F for 15 minutes until bubbly and golden.

Related recipes