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Creamy Mac & Cheese with Bacon & Bleu Cheese

Source of Recipe

Better Homes & Gardens


Recipe Introduction

"This splendid take on mac n' cheese includes bacon, sweet onion, and some blue cheese. Cream cheese can be substituted for the blue cheese if that suits your needs better. You can also use cavatelli, gnocchi, or campanelle pasta instead of the elbow macaroni called for in this hearty version of macaroni and cheese."

List of Ingredients

4 strips bacon
1 large sweet onion thinly sliced
6 oz. dry elbow macaroni
8 oz. mozzarella cheese shredded (2 cups)
2 to 4 oz. blue cheese crumbled
1 cup half-and-half or light cream
1/8 tsp. pepper


Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large skillet cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, turning once. Drain bacon on paper towels; crumble. Reserve bacon drippings in skillet.

2. Cook onion in reserved bacon drippings for 5 to 8 minutes or until onion is tender and golden brown. Set aside.

3. Cook elbow macaroni according to package directions. Drain and place in a 1-1/2-quart casserole. Add the crumbled bacon, onions, 1-1/2 cups of the mozzarella cheese, the blue cheese, half-and half, and pepper. Toss gently to combine.

4. Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Stir gently. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for 10 minutes more or until top of casserole is brown and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes.