Four Cheese and Bacon Mac 'n' Cheese

By june

Ingredients

• 1 box (1 lb) cavatappi or macaroni
• 6 slices bacon, diced
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 tsp onion flakes
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 lb sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
• 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
• 8 slices American cheese

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 3-quart broiler safe baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Cook pasta according to package directions and drain. Cook bacon in a medium saucepan until crisp. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain.
Pour off all drippings except 2 tbsps. Add butter to bacon drippings. Whisk in flour until smooth. In a thin stream, whisk in milk. Stir in onion flakes, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes.
In a large bowl, toss together cheddar, colby jack, and mozzarella cheeses. Remove milk mixture from heat; whisk in American cheese and 1 1/4 cups of cheese mixture. Toss bacon with remaining cheese mixture.
In pasta pot, combine cooked pasta and cheese sauce. Pour half into prepared dish. Sprinkle with a generous cup of cheese and bacon mixture. Repeat layering.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Increase oven temperature to broil and broil 3 minutes until top is lightly browned.

I think this is just as good without the bacon.