Yummy Recipe Wednesday! (Ultimate Mac & Cheese Casserole)

Hello again everyone and welcome to another Yummy Recipe Wednesday.  I know everyone missed these posts so let’s get right to it.  Today’s recipe popped up on my Twitter last night from Food Network so of course I had to give it a try.  I had to run out to the store to grab a few things I didn’t have but it was definitely worth it.  If you can’t find orecchiette pasta I’m sure shells would work for this just as well.  This is easily the best Mac & Cheese that’s I’ve ever had, at least as far as I can remember anyway.  The Gruyere and Sharp cheese make this dish so flavorful and so cheesy and the bacon is an added bonus because everything tastes better with bacon.  Other than the flavor, I love that this recipe is “for two”.  It’s perfect for just my wife and me with some nice vegetables on the side.   I highly recommend that you give this a try for yourself and don’t just take my word for how wonderful it is.  As always, feel free to leave comments below and be sure to follow @RecipeBlogger on Twitter if you aren’t already so you don’t miss any new posts.

Ultimate Mac & Cheese Casserole

• 2 cups Orecchiette Pasta
• 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
• 2 Tbsp Flour
• 1 cup Milk
• 1 cup Shredded Gruyère Cheese
• 1 cup Sharp White Cheddar Cheese
• Salt and Pepper, to taste
• 8 slices Crispy Bacon, finely chopped

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and lightly grease a 2-quart casserole dish.

2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente then drain off excess water; you’ll want it to still have a bite to it because it will finish cooking in the oven.

3. Meanwhile, melt the butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet.

4. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes while whisking vigorously so it doesn’t burn; continue to whisk as you add the milk, then let the mixture gently come to a simmer and thicken, about 5 minutes.

5. Add the Gruyère and white cheddar cheeses to the skillet and stir together with a spatula until all of the cheese has melted; add salt and pepper, to taste, and remove the skillet from the heat.

6. Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and gently toss the pasta with the cheese sauce until everything is covered; sprinkle half of the bacon into the skillet and toss to incorporate.

7. Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared casserole dish; top with the remaining bacon pieces, and then place, uncovered, in the oven to bake for 30 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbly and the pasta is cooked through.

8. After 30 minutes, remove the casserole from the oven and let it sit for 10 minutes before serving.