American · easy

BBQ Bacon Mac and Cheese

Name: BBQ Bacon Mac and Cheese
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 16 oz Cavatappi or Elbow Macaroni; 6 slices Thick-Cut Bacon; 3 tbsp Butter; 3 tbsp All-Purpose Flour; 2 1/2 cups Whole Milk; 1 1/2 cups Smoked Gouda, shredded; 1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded; 3 tbsp BBQ Sauce; 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika; 1/2 cup Panko Breadcrumbs

Smoky mac and cheese with crispy bacon, BBQ sauce swirled into the cheese sauce, and a panko topping.

45 min
Total: 4
Serves: $11.00
Est. cost: 720
Cal/serving

Parent noteThe smoky-sweet BBQ flavor makes this a hit. Skip the cayenne for younger kids.

Chips reflect this recipe's curated tags, not an ingredient-by-ingredient allergen scan. The app tags every ingredient against the top-9 allergens and filters your family's weekly plan by severity — check labels if an allergy is severe.

Ingredients

Cavatappi or Elbow Macaroni16 oz
Thick-Cut Bacon6 slices
Butter3 tbsp
All-Purpose Flour3 tbsp
Whole Milk2 1/2 cups
Smoked Gouda, shredded1 1/2 cups
Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded1 cup
BBQ Sauce3 tbsp
Smoked Paprika1/2 tsp
Panko Breadcrumbs1/2 cup

Method

01
Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook cavatappi or elbow macaroni in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain.
02
Cook bacon in a skillet until crispy. Transfer to paper towels and crumble. Reserve 1 tbsp bacon drippings.
03
In a saucepan, melt butter with the reserved bacon drippings over medium heat. Whisk in flour, cook 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook until thickened, about 4 minutes.
04
Remove from heat. Stir in smoked gouda, cheddar, BBQ sauce, smoked paprika, and a pinch of cayenne. Season with salt and pepper. Fold in pasta and half the bacon.
05
Transfer to a greased baking dish. Top with panko mixed with melted butter and remaining bacon.
06
Bake 20 minutes until bubbly and golden. Drizzle with a little extra BBQ sauce before serving.

720
Calories: 30g
Protein: 56g
Carbs: 42g
Fat