Bacon Topped Macaroni and Cheese is a sponsored post for Mahón-Menorca Cheese. The recipe and opinions are my own.Â
When it comes to Thanksgiving Dinner, my menu may vary slightly each year. However, there’s always one side dish that remains the same. Homemade Macaroni and Cheese will always make an appearance on my holiday table.
The boxed variety just won’t cut it when I’m hosting holiday gatherings. The first question the grandkids will ask when they run through the door on Thanksgiving Day is, “Did you make your homemade Macaroni and Cheese?” This year, I’ve added crispy, chopped bacon and homemade croutons. It’s comfort food to the max!
The key to making delicious Macaroni and Cheese is, well, the cheese. It’s important to use the best cheese and to shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese usually has stabilizers and much less flavor.
My Favorite Cheese for Bacon Topped Macaroni and Cheese
My favorite cheese for making Homemade Macaroni and Cheese is Mahón-Menorca Cheese from Spain.
A trip to Spain is definitely at the top of my bucket list, but you don’t have to travel to Spain to enjoy Mahón-Menorca Cheese. You can find this delicious cheese at the following US locations: Fairway, West Side Market, Gourmet Garage, Saveway, Wholefoods, Kroger, Costco, Central Markets, Central and Town & Country Markets.
Mahón-Menorca Cheese is a PGO product and is made with fresh milk on the island of Minorca. PGO means Protected Guarantee of Origin. It’s a guarantee that the product is intimately tied to the geographical area where it is produced.
History of Mahón-Menorca Cheese
I’m fascinated with the history of Mahón-Menorca Cheese. I recently learned that the formatjat (production process) has remained unchanged for a very long time in all the Menorcan “llocs” (farm-houses) where very old practices have been followed.
Overall it is determined by a series of procedures that have been handed down from father to son and the correct application of these procedures define and are the source of authentic Mahón-Menorca cheese.
There are three different types of Mahón-Menorca – Tender, Semi-Cured, and Cured. I use semi-cured to make my Bacon Topped Macaroni and Cheese.
Bacon Topped Macaroni and Cheese
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil over high heat. Add the macaroni and cook for 9-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Now it’s time to make the Béchamel Sauce (white sauce). Warm the milk in a small saucepan just until warm to the touch. In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Whisk in the flour and dry mustard and keep whisking for about one minute or until the mixture is smooth.
Add the milk and whisk until smooth.
Stir in the cheese and continue to cook, stirring until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Add the cooked macaroni to the pot and stir to combine.
Pour into a 3-quart baking dish, sprinkle with cheese and top with homemade croutons (recipe below).
Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly. When the Macaroni and Cheese is almost done, cook the bacon in the microwave or a skillet until crispy. Sprinkle the bacon on top of the Macaroni and Cheese before serving.
Bacon Topped Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 box (16 oz.) elbow macaroni
- 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 Tablespoons flour
- 4 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cups shredded Mahón-Menorca cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- 6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
Homemade Croutons
- 6 slices bread, cubed
- 2 Tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F.
- Make croutons by combining cubed bread with 2 tablespoons melted butter and minced garlic. Bake at 350º for six minutes or until golden brown. Set aside.
- In a large pot, bring water and salt to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Warm milk in a small saucepan until just warm to touch.
- In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add flour and dry mustard and whisk for about a minute or until smooth. Add milk and keep whisking until smooth.
- Stir in the cheese and keep whisking until melted and smooth.
- Remove from heat and add the macaroni. Stir gently until combined.
- Place macaroni in a 3-quart greased baking dish and sprinkle with homemade croutons. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Top with cooked and crumbled bacon before serving.
I think your family will love my Bacon Topped Macaroni and Cheese. The Mahón-Menorca Cheese adds such a depth of flavor.
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What’s your favorite holiday side dish?
21 comments
Mac n cheese is my fave side dish but my mother in law bakes this amazing squash casserole that wows the family every time she makes it.
Mac n Cheese is like my favourite comfort food and I love the fact this is bacon-topped, that just takes it to a completely new level! I must try it!
Oh my yum this is the ultimate comfort food! Never hear of Mahón-Menorca but now I want to try it. Love the addition of breadcrumbs too.
A good mac and cheese starts with great cheese. Adding the bacon on top makes everyone happy. Especially my husband and rest of the people in my family.
A good mac & cheese is always hard to fine. I am definitely excited to try this one. Putting bacon on anything makes it better.
I’m not the biggest bacon fan, but I feel like on Mac ‘n cheese it would truly taste good. I’m going to add this to my “to try” list, thank you!
I love mahon and topping it with bacon is divine. Mac and cheese is definitely a weakness for me.
Bacon topped mac and cheese sounds like such a delicious meal. I know my kids would drool over this!!
You had me at bacon. OMG. Anything with bacon makes my tummy do a happy dance. I have not tried Mahon-Menorca cheese yet, but I will! I will add this to my grocery list and make some yummy mac and cheese (following your recipe).
I’m not a big bacon fan, but this looks and sounds delicious. I know my family would really enjoy it.
I love bacon in macaroni, but this bacon topped macaroni and cheese looks like it takes it to a whole new level. My family would love this.
This is easy to make and it’s delicious! Mac and cheese with bacon is the best combination ever!
I haven’t heard of this cheese, but I love making homemade mac n cheese. I’ll have to see if I can find it, your mac n cheese looks very rich and tasty!
That sounds like a delicious recipe and one that my family would love! That cheese sounds very good and I will need to take a look for it!
This would be a perfect dish to prepare during Thanksgiving. There’s only four of us here at home so a smaller dish lof this would be great.
Now this looks so amazing and macaroni and cheese is one of my favorite comfort foods.
I’ve never heard of this cheese before but it sounds like a must-try. I just love mac and cheese. It’s just such a yummy comfort food.
hi where do your blogs go out to? we want to notify our retail customers in the markets you reach.
plesae advise.
thx
ron Schinbeckler
Specialities inc
Importer of Menorca Mahon cheeses
908 294 3200 (cell)
p.s. loved the recipe!
My blog goes out all around the world! Of course, I have more followers in the US and Canada.
I love bacon. So much so that once a week I eat. And that recipe came in a very good time. It already made my mouth water!
Thanks! It will be perfect for fall and/or Thanksgiving! 🙂