Bacon Ranch Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Bacon Ranch Macaroni & Cheese is perfect for game day but quick enough to enjoy for dinner with your family on a busy weeknight!

Hi! My name is Jessy and I blog over at The Life Jolie. I’m so excited to share some recipes here with you at Yellow Bliss Road!

Mac and Cheese has been a favorite food of mine since I was a little girl. I mean, is there anything more comforting than creamy, savory pasta? When I was a kid, my mom would sometimes make frozen mac and cheese and my absolute favorite part was the slightly crispy crust that would form on the corners of the container. I always made a point to be the first one at the table in hopes of getting all those perfect corners to myself!

Bacon Mac and Cheese

My husband Justin is something of a picky eater, which can be challenging for me, since I love to sample a wide variety of foods. But in addition to enjoying mac and cheese, he and I both share a love for bacon and ranch dressing (in fact, I grew to love ranch because he loved it so much!). And since I’m always looking for ways to add a fun twist to classic recipes, Bacon Ranch Baked Macaroni and Cheese seemed like a natural next step.

This dish is the creamy and delicious mac and cheese that dreams are made of! The bacon brings a savory smokiness and the hint of zest from the ranch seasoning kicked the whole recipe up a notch without being overpowering.

I sprinkled some extra cheese on top at the beginning with a generous portion of panko breadcrumbs and some crumbled bacon to achieve that crispy crust that I loved all those years ago in every serving. If you’re looking for a more melty-cheese on top, simply wait to add the toppings until 5 minutes before it’s done baking.

This fun variation will definitely be making some appearances during football season this year. But it’s also quick an easy enough to make a comforting and heart weeknight dinner this fall. It’s definitely best right out of the oven and can easily be doubled to feed a crowd. Your family will be fighting for that second helping!

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Bacon Ranch Baked Macaroni & Cheese

5 from 5 votes

Bacon Ranch Macaroni & Cheese is perfect for game day but quick enough to enjoy for dinner with your family on a busy weeknight!

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 50 mins

Total Time 1 hr

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Course Main

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 518kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 10 slices of bacon fried until crisp
• ▢ 3 1/2 tablespoons butter
• ▢ 3 1/2 tablespoons flour
• ▢ 2 1/2 cups whole milk
• ▢ 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning
• ▢ 1 1/4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
• ▢ 1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• ▢ 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni cooked as per package directions to al dente and drained
• ▢ 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• In a medium size pan, melt butter over medium heat.
• Add flour and whisk to make a roux. Let the roux cook for 1-2 minutes until golden, whisking often.
• Add milk and ranch seasoning. Whisk the ingredients continuously until the sauce thickens slightly; about 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of cheddar cheese and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese until fully combined.
• Add the cheese mixture to the cooked macaroni and crumble 6 pieces of the bacon in.
• Stir until well combined and pour into a 9" x 9" pan.
• Top with remaining cheese, panko bread crumbs and crumble on the remaining bacon.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is crispy and the edges are bubbling.
• Serve immediately.

Notes

This is best served piping hot and can be doubled in a 9x13 pan to feed a crowd.

Nutrition

Calories: 518kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 24gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 1011mgPotassium: 344mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 767IUCalcium: 425mgIron: 1mg

Have you tried this recipe?

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Make it a full meal with these other tasty options:

Nanou’s Garlic Green Beans

No-Bake S’mores Bars

Here’s another great Mac & Cheese Recipe that our family loves:

Chicken, Bacon and Blue Macaroni and Cheese

For more easy weeknight dinner recipes, try these:

• One Pan Ham & Cheese Tortellini
• Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup
• Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta