One bite of this maple bacon macaroni and cheese casserole and you will never look at macaroni and cheese the same way again! The flavour combinations of maple, bacon, and rich, velvety cheese is what makes this dish a go-to for family suppers, late-night snacking, or any time of the day.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. uncooked large elbow macaroni
- 1 1/2 tsp salt, divided
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded or grated
- 1/2 lb bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 3 1/2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup Sweet Ontario maple syrup
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, plus more for greasing dish (can also use bacon fat from bacon cooking)
- 3 1/2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded (we used old cheese for a richer flavour)
- 2 large eggs, well beaten
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°Fahrenheit.
- Bring water to a boil over high in a large stock-pot, then add pasta and return to boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender but still firm (al dente). Drain. Return pasta to pot and cover to keep warm.
- Cook bacon and crumble.
- Grease 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Combine parmesan cheese, approximately 2 strips of bacon, crumbled, and 1/2 cup grated cheese and set aside. This is your topping.
- Combine flour, pepper, mustard, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a small bowl and set aside.
- Beat two eggs until they are well combined and frothy.
- Heat milk in a medium saucepan until steaming but not boiling.
- Melt butter (or heat bacon fat) in a large saucepan; add flour mixture. Cook, whisking often, until mixture is smooth and is golden coloured. Slowly whisk in warm milk and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring frequently, until thickened to the texture of cream.
- Stir remaining shredded cheese into milk mixture. Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in eggs until mixture creates a smooth and silky sauce. Add maple syrup and combine.
- Pour sauce over macaroni and combine. Add remaining bacon and combine.
- Pour macaroni mixture into prepared baking dish and sprinkle top evenly with bacon and parmesan cheese mixture.
- Bake for 35 to 45 minutes.