Hi Friends! I’m Natalie Mason. I live in Charleston, SC and I am mom to Sterling 12 , Frances Moon 8 and our mini golden doodle Dolly.

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Bacon + Brussels Sprouts Mac and Cheese

Jul 30, 2014


Ask and you shall receive.  This was one of my most popular and most requested instagram recipes to date, but whats not to love about a jazzed up Mac and Cheese??   This mac and cheese is pretty much amazing.  Best eaten hot and gooey.  It made me come to the conclusion that bacon and brussels sprouts should always be paired together.   I could have eaten all the cooked bacon and brussels sprouts before I even added in the mac and cheese.  The cheese sauce is so creamy and delicious,  this whole dish is really a killer combo.  The original recipe called for it to be baked in the oven with bread crumbs, which I did.  However I felt like that dried it out, I honestly thought it was best right off the skillet.  But you decide how you want yours:)  Either way its damn good.

Enjoy!

|| B A C O N  + B R U S S E L S   S  P R O U T S   M A C   A N D   C H E E S E ||

adapted via How Sweet It Is

Ingredients:

1 pound of cooked pasta, smaller noodles desired
6 slices of bacon, chopped
1 shallot, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 pound of brussels sprouts, stems removed and sliced/chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup half and half
8 ounces fontina cheese, freshly grated
4 ounces white cheddar cheese, freshly grated
2 ounces parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons fine breadcrumbs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Heat a large, 12-inch oven-safe skillet oven medium-low heat and add
bacon. Cook until the fat is just rendered, then removed about 1/4 of
the bacon and set it aside in a bowl. Cook the remaining bacon until
completely crispy. Add in the shallot, garlic and brussels spouts,
stirring well to coat. Cook until the brussels soften, about 5 minutes.
Turn off the heat and toss the pasta in with the brussels.

To make the cheese sauce. heat a small saucepan over medium heat and
add the butter. Once it’s sizzling, whisk in the flour to create a roux
and cook until it is golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in the
milk and the half and half, stirring the entire time and cook until it
is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the fontina, cheddar and
parm, stirring until the cheese is melted. Stir in the nutmeg. Once the
cheese is melted, pour it over the pasta in the skillet and toss well
to coat. Add the panko and fine breadcrumbs over top of the pasta and
sprinkle on the bacon that your set aside earlier.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.

Leave a Reply

  1. Emily says:

    This sounds delicious. I love Brussels Sprouts. It would be a good party dish because I don't want the leftovers in my fridge. Bacon, whole milk, butter, cheese = long workout! 🙂

  2. caycee says:

    Yes please!! I am already dreaming about the amazing food you will be cooking up tonight!!! Can not wait!!

  3. Right out of the skillet is the best! I never bake my mac and cheese! You are evil for posting this!!!!

  4. Val says:

    I have never seen anything so glorious in all my life.

  5. Jessie says:

    I never comment, but I had to tell you I love all of your recipe posts!

  6. Lauren says:

    Looks delicious, thanks for sharing!!

    -Lauren
    http://www.prettypiecesblog.com

  7. Seriously I can't…this looks SO good!! I can't wait to try!

  8. Jessica says:

    You always post the best recipes. Some of which have become regular family favorites around our house. This looks like another rock star! Yum!

  9. Katie says:

    Looks delicious! I'm so excited for you and your sister too. I will certainly buy that cookbook. It has been a dream of mine too! Love to cook and create recipes.

    I made your Greek couscous recipe last week and it rocked. Even tagged you on Instagram 😉

  10. BLovedBoston says:

    YUM!! I haven't made mac and cheese in quite some time, but this one is screaming to be made!!

  11. Christina says:

    daaaang girl. that's some mac & cheese.

  12. Meghan says:

    Oh man! I cannot wait to try this! xo

  13. Meghan says:

    Oh man! I cannot wait to try this! xo

  14. Ellie says:

    So adapted means "copy and paste"