You know that AMAZING homemade macaroni and cheese that somebody’s relative brought to the family reunion or at your friend’s cookout? I think this is one of those mac n’ cheeses that everybody is going to be gobbling up quickly. I always like trying unusual things with my recipes so I decided to sub Fritos for bread crumbs.
If you’re feeling in a meatless mood you can always omit the bacon. I believe that anything and everything can be improved with bacon.
*Not including Denny’s Franken-breakfast creations including bacon pancakes and bacon milkshakes.
Yields: 10 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients
| 24 oz. uncooked orecchiette pasta | 2 cups white cheddar cheese, shredded |
| 4 oz. butter | 2 cups smoked gouda cheese, shredded |
| 8 oz. Philadelphia cream cheese | 1 cup Havarti cheese, shredded |
| 2 cups whole milk, divided | 4 strips Applewood smoked bacon |
| 2 tbsp. cornstarch | 1/2 cup Fritos, crushed |
| 1 tbsp. pepper | 1 tbsp. salt |
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Add salt to a pot of boiling water and cook pasta following package directions.
While pasta is cooking, melt butter into a medium saucepan. When butter is melted, melt cream cheese and whisk in 1 cup milk. After cream cheese is melted, whisk in 2 tbsp. of cornstarch and pepper. Continue to whisk until sauce is thickened. Don’t forget to keep stirring your pasta!
Once the pasta is al dente, drain and return back to the pot and combine pasta, cream cheese sauce and remaining milk. Combine the cream cheese pasta with half of the cheddar, gouda and Havarti cheeses.
Lightly grease the bottom of a casserole dish or add directly to a Dutch oven. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and bake for 8-12 minutes until cheese has melted on top.
While macaroni and cheese is baking, cook bacon in a large pan for 3-4 minutes, flipping halfway through until brown and crispy. Remove bacon to a plate covered in paper towels to drip off excess grease.
For that nice burnt layer of cheese that we all love, broil the macaroni and cheese on high for about 1-2 minutes until parts begin to look golden brown.
Remove from oven and serve. Optional: Garnish with Fritos.
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