I love a mac & cheese and I love a white cheddar, so of course I really like making this. One of the surprise ingredients is a little bit of diced pear which may shock you, but I love the cheese and fruit pairing. And it adds a pleasant amount of sweet with the sharpness of the cheddar. There is also kale, red onion, and bacon. Oh, the other surprise ingredient that is very fun and also great for autumn – nutmeg!
WHITE CHEDDAR BACON & KALE MAC
Serves 3-4
1 pound pasta, cooked al dente
1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
3 tablespoons butter
1 red onion, sliced
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
8 ounces white cheddar, shredded
1/4 cup parmesan, shredded
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flake
1 bunch kale, de-stemed and sliced
3/4 cup panko
Salt & pepper
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add red onion and cook for 3-5 minutes. Add flour, milk, cheddar, and parmesan to skillet. Stir together as cheeses melt. Once cheese is melted, season with nutmeg, red pepper flake, and salt & pepper.
Add cooked pasta, crumbled bacon, and kale to sauce. Continue to cook until kale is wilted.
Transfer to a greased 9×13 baking dish. Pour pasta mixture into pan.
Top with panko. Bake 25-30 minutes, until outside is crispy.
- 1 pound pasta, cooked al dente
- 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 red onion, sliced
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups milk
- 8 ounces white cheddar, shredded
- ¼ cup parmesan, shredded
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flake
- 1 bunch kale, de-stemed and sliced
- ¾ cup panko
- Salt & pepper
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add red onion and cook for 3-5 minutes.
- Add flour, milk, cheddar, and parmesan to skillet. Stir together as cheeses melt.
- Once cheese is melted, season with nutmeg, red pepper flake, and salt & pepper.
- Add cooked pasta, crumbled bacon, and kale to sauce. Continue to cook until kale is wilted.
- Transfer to a greased 9x13 baking dish. Pour pasta mixture into pan.
- Top with panko.
- Bake 25-30 minutes, until outside is crispy.
Adapted from Good Life Eats.
