Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Bacon, Mushrooms and Chicken
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 8 oz macaroni noodles
  • 7 tablespoons butter, divided
  • ⅓ cup flour
  • 1½ cups heavy cream
  • 1½ cups milk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon mustard
  • 1½ cups sharp cheddar, grated
  • 1½ cups fontina cheese, grated
  • ½ cup bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
  • 2 - 3 Roma tomatoes, chopped
  • 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 cup grilled chicken, sliced
  • ½ - ¾ cups panko breadcrumbs
  • green onions for garnish
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside.
  3. Sautee mushrooms in one tablespoon of butter until golden brown and set aside
  4. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in large saucepan.
  5. Combine flour, salt, nutmeg and mustard then add to melted butter and whisk until smooth.
  6. Add milk and cream, stir constantly while cooking on medium high until mixture boils.
  7. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook for 10 minutes while stirring constantly.
  8. Add cheeses and stir until melted.
  9. Remove from heat.
  10. Add cooked noodles, cooked bacon, chopped tomatoes, chicken and mushrooms to the cheese sauce and toss to coat.
  11. Pour into casserole dish, sprinkle with buttered breadcrumbs and bake on 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
  12. Serve topped with sliced green onions.
Notes
Be sure and cook the cheese sauce for the full 10 minutes. The rue will taste like flour if not cooked.

For plain mac & cheese, skip the extra ingredients added in step #9. Top with breadcrumbs and bake as listed.
Recipe by I Heart Kitchen at https://www.iheartkitchen.com/baked-macaroni-cheese-with-bacon-mushrooms-and-chicken/