Easy Weeknight Bacon Mac N Cheese Recipes

Steps:

• Place the sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium-high heat and toast until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl.
• Cook the brown rice according to the package directions, omitting any fat. Once cooked, leave the rice covered in the pot (off the heat).
• Meanwhile, combine the soy sauce, ginger, sugar, garlic and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. In separate bowls, combine the meat and scallions with 1/4 cup of the soy mixture; the cucumbers with 2 teaspoons; the carrots with 2 teaspoons; the zucchini with 2 teaspoons and the shiitakes with the remaining 1 teaspoon of the soy mixture.
• Heat the remaining tablespoon sesame oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add the meat and stir-fry until it is slightly pink in the center, 2 to 3 minutes. (It will continue cooking as it stands.) Use tongs to transfer the meat to a clean bowl, leaving the liquid in the pan.
• Add the spinach to the pan and cook, tossing constantly, until it is soft and bright green, about 2 minutes; transfer to a clean bowl. Add the zucchini and stir-fry until crisp-tender, 1 to 2 minutes; transfer to a clean bowl. Add the shiitake and stir-fry until the liquid is thick and the mushrooms are tender, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs to the pan and cook until the whites are just set.
• Divide the rice evenly among 4 serving bowls; top with the beef, cucumbers, carrots, zucchini, spinach and shiitake. Drizzle with gochujang and sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Add an egg to the center of each bowl and drizzle with more gochujang. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Salt the water and cook the pasta shy of al dente, 5 to 6 minutes.
• While the water comes to a boil, heat the EVOO in a Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and remove some of the drippings, leaving a thin layer. Add the beef, brown and crumble, but leave a few larger pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Once the beef has caramelized, add the onions and cook to tender. Add the stock and Worcestershire, then reduce the heat to low.
• In a saucepot over medium to medium-high heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour, cook 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and season with salt and pepper. Thicken to coat the back of a spoon. Stir in the cheese. When the cheese has melted into the sauce, stir in the mustard, ketchup, relish and hot sauce. Combine the pasta with the sauce and fold in the meat. Place in a large casserole dish. Cool and store for a make-ahead meal.
• To serve, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bring the casserole to room temp then bake until brown and bubbly on top and golden at edges, 45 to 50 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 2-quart baking dish or eight 12-ounce ramekins.
• For the bechamel: Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring often, until just crisp, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the 3 1/2 cups milk, the parsley, peppercorns, crushed red pepper, bay leaf and nutmeg in another medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then remove from the heat and keep warm.
• When the bacon is crisp, remove it with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate, leaving 6 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the saucepan. If you have less than 6 tablespoons, make up the difference with the butter and heat over medium heat until melted. Add the flour and cook, stirring, until the mixture is doughy and smells a bit nutty, about 1 minute.
• Strain in the warm milk about a half cup at a time into the flour mixture and cook, whisking to incorporate after each addition. The bechamel should be smooth and velvety. If it's chunky or too thick, whisk in some more milk.
• For the mac 'n' cheese: Remove the bechamel from the heat and add all of the cheeses; whisk to combine. Fold in half of the bacon. Next, fold in the macaroni, then the peas. Transfer to the prepared baking dish or ramekins. If using ramekins, place them on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Combine the breadcrumbs with the remaining bacon pieces, the melted butter and a pinch each of salt and black pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the mac 'n' cheese and bake until the sauce is bubbly and the crust is browned on top, 30 to 45 minutes (depending on the baking vessel).
• Let rest for 10 minutes then serve.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F Spray 2-quart casserole with cooking spray. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
• Meanwhile, in 3-quart saucepan, heat cooking sauce, milk and garlic to boiling. Remove from heat; stir in cheeses until melted. Stir in pasta, bacon and bell pepper. Spoon into casserole.
• Bake uncovered 20 minutes or until edges are bubbly. Sprinkle with bread crumbs.

Steps:

• 1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray 2-quart casserole with cooking spray. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
• 2. Meanwhile, in 3-quart saucepan, heat cooking sauce, milk and garlic to boiling. Remove from heat; stir in cheeses until melted. Stir in pasta, bacon and bell pepper. Spoon into casserole.
• 3. Bake uncovered 20 minutes or until edges are bubbly. Sprinkle with bread crumbs.

Steps:

• Add bacon to a 5 1/2 quart Dutch oven over medium-heat and cook, stirring, until crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Add pasta to pot with the rendered bacon fat. Add 4 cups water and one teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook, stirring frequently, until pasta is just tender and a small amount of water still remains, about 7 minutes.
• Add mozzarella, cheddar, fontina, cream cheese, milk, butter, mustard powder, and cayenne. Reduce heat to low, stirring until cheese is melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and serve immediately, garnished with reserved bacon, chives, and additional cayenne, if desired.

Steps:

• 1. Cook pasta in large saucepan of salted water according to package directions. Drain; reserve pasta water. 2. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add bell pepper. Cook until pepper is tender, about 6 minutes. Add soup, 12 soup can of reserved pasta water and cheese. Stir until melted, about 8 minutes. 3. Add chicken, cooked pasta and pepper; stir. Top with bacon and scallions, if desired. 4. Combine ranch dressing and salsa in a large bowl. Toss with lettuce. Serve salad chilled or at room temperature along side of Mac 'n' Cheese.