Indulge in a culinary delight with our irresistible Bacon, Leek, and Tomato Macaroni and Cheese. This classic comfort food is elevated with the savory smokiness of bacon, the subtle sweetness of leeks, and the refreshing tang of tomatoes. Perfectly balanced and bursting with flavor, this dish is a symphony of textures that will tantalize your taste buds.
Our recipe collection offers variations to suit every palate. From the traditional baked macaroni and cheese to the innovative skillet version, each recipe delivers a unique twist on this beloved dish. Whether you prefer a crispy golden crust or a gooey, melted center, we have the perfect recipe for you.
For those who enjoy a rich and creamy indulgence, try our Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese. This timeless recipe features a velvety béchamel sauce, tender macaroni noodles, and a generous helping of sharp cheddar cheese. The result is a comforting and nostalgic dish that will warm your soul.
If you're in the mood for something a little more adventurous, our Skillet Macaroni and Cheese is sure to impress. This one-pan wonder combines all the classic ingredients with the addition of crispy bacon, sautéed leeks, and diced tomatoes. The result is a flavorful and hearty dish that's perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal.
For those with dietary restrictions, our Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese and Vegan Macaroni and Cheese offer delicious alternatives without compromising on taste. These recipes use alternative ingredients to create creamy and flavorful sauces that are just as satisfying as the traditional versions.
No matter which recipe you choose, our Bacon, Leek, and Tomato Macaroni and Cheese collection is sure to become a family favorite. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to experience a cheesy, bacon-y, and tomato-licious delight that will leave you craving for more.
BAKED MAC AND CHEESE WITH BACON
There are few dishes more comforting and indulgent than mac and cheese, and this version will become your new go-to. Mac and cheese may seem straightforward, but in an all-star mac, each component is carefully considered and intentionally chosen to build a creamy, melty pasta bake. Master each element of the dish with this winning recipe.It all starts with the noodles, and in this recipe, we use large elbow macaroni noodles. They're a bit thicker than your average elbows, so they catch more of that creamy cheese sauce (and the exposed ends crisp up beautifully when baked).At the core of any good mac and cheese is a winning blend of cheeses; this recipe calls for three different types of cheese, each one serving a distinct purpose. Extra-sharp Cheddar brings that punch of sharp cheesy flavor and coveted orange color; Parmesan makes an appearance in the breadcrumb topping, bringing a natural bite of salt and crisping up beautifully. Then, for the third cheese, have your pick of Monterey Jack, provolone, or mozzarella, all white cheeses that bring creaminess and that stretchy, cheese-pull texture we look for in any high-quality mac.At the base of the cheese sauce is a roux-a mixture of butter and flour-and we incorporate mustard powder to bring salty, earthy tang. Then, to kick this mac and cheese up a notch, we add crumbled bacon to the breadcrumb crust and mixed directly into the pasta bake.From Skillet Cauliflower Mac to Macaroni Pie, there are countless ways to reinvent this comforting dish. But before you get really creative, it's important to master the basics. This Creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon is an excellent, extra-indulgent recipe to keep in your rotation-it's sure to please a family or a crowd.
Provided by Nancie McDermott
Categories Macaroni
Time 1h10m
Yield Serves 10
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Bring 3 quarts water to a boil over high in a large stock-pot. Stir in pasta and 1 tablespoon of the salt, and return to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender but still firm, about 6 minutes. Reserve and set aside 2 cups cooking water, and then drain the pasta. Return pasta to pot, and remove from heat. Cover to keep warm.
- Generously butter a 13- x 9-inch baking dish, and set aside. Toss together breadcrumbs; Parmesan cheese; and half of the cooked, crumbled bacon in a bowl, and set aside. Stir together flour, pepper, mustard, and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a small bowl. Heat milk and buttermilk in a medium saucepan over medium, undisturbed, until barely steaming but not boiling, 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside.
- Melt butter in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high. Add flour mixture. Cook, whisking often, until mixture is smooth and thick and has a delicate golden color and toasted aroma, about 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in warm milk mixture. Bring to a boil over high. Cook, stirring often, until thickened to the texture of cream, about 3 minutes.
- Stir shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses into milk mixture, and remove from heat. Stir in beaten eggs until mixture forms a smooth sauce.
- Uncover cooked pasta, and stir. (If pasta sticks together, stir in reserved warm cooking water, and drain again.) Stir cheese mixture and remaining bacon into drained pasta in stockpot.
- Transfer pasta mixture to prepared baking dish, and sprinkle evenly with breadcrumb mixture. Bake in preheated oven until firm, puffed up, and lightly browned, 35 to 40 minutes. Serve hot or warm.
BACON & TOMATO MACARONI 'N CHEESE
Bacon mac and cheese takes the flavors of a classic sandwich and a favorite comfort food and combines them in this hearty dish.
Provided by Land O'Lakes
Categories Casserole Lunch Cheese Tomato Bacon Macaroni and cheese Pasta and noodles Main Course Pork Meat, poultry, and seafood Vegetable Dairy Main Course
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain.
- Melt Butter with Olive Oil & Sea Salt in 3-quart saucepan over medium heat until sizzling; stir in flour, salt, nutmeg and ground red pepper. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, 1-2 minutes or until mixture is bubbly and very lightly browned. Add milk, 1/4 cup at a time, stirring constantly, 5-7 minutes or until mixture is thickened. Add cheeses; stir until melted and sauce is smooth. Add cooked macaroni, tomato, 1/3 cup crumbled bacon and parsley; stir until well mixed.
- Garnish with additional crumbled bacon, if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 480 calories, Fat 27 grams, SaturatedFat grams, Transfat grams, Cholesterol 70 milligrams, Sodium 880 milligrams, Carbohydrate 37 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Sugar grams, Protein 21 grams
BLT PASTA BAKE: BACON, LEEKS, AND TOMATOES
Make and share this BLT Pasta Bake: Bacon, Leeks, and Tomatoes recipe from Food.com.
Provided by dicentra
Categories Vegetable
Time 30m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Place a pot of water on to boil for the pasta. When the water reaches a boil, add some salt and the pasta, and cook until al dente.
- While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil and chopped bacon and cook until crisp.
- While bacon is cooking, split the trimmed leeks in half lengthwise, lay the leeks cut side down and thinly slice into half-moons. Fill a large bowl with water and mix the leeks into the water.
- Allow the water to settle and the dirt and the grit to settle to the bottle of the bowl. Using your hands, draw the leeks from the water, taking care not to unsettle the dirt.
- Drain the cleaned leeks on a kitchen towel, pat dry and, and then add to the pan with the bacon. Season the leeks with salt and pepper. Cook until leeks are tender, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- To start the cheese sauce, heat a medium sauce pot over medium heat. Add the butter and melt, then add the flour, cayenne, and paprika and whisk together over the heat until the roux bubbles; cook for 1 minute more.
- Whisk in the milk and stock and raise the heat a little. Bring the sauce to a quick boil and simmer to thicken, about 5 minutes.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and whisk in 3 cups of the grated cheese and the mustard. Set aside.
- Add the cherry tomatoes to the leeks and continue to cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve.
- Preheat the broiler.
- Drain the pasta and add it back to the pasta pot. Combine the reserved leek mixture and the cheese sauce with the pasta. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer the pasta to a baking dish. Combine the remaining ½ cup of grated cheese with the bread crumbs.
- Top the pasta with the mixture. Place the dish under the broiler until the cheese melts and the bread crumbs are brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1271.8, Fat 59.8, SaturatedFat 30.4, Cholesterol 157.8, Sodium 827.4, Carbohydrate 125.2, Fiber 6.8, Sugar 18.7, Protein 57.1
BACON AND TOMATO PASTA
Steps:
- In a large stock pot, boil 3 quarts of water, when boiling add 2 tablespoons kosher salt and the pasta and cook until the pasta is al dente.
- In a large saute pan over medium heat, add bacon and saute until bacon is crispy. Remove bacon to drain on a paper towel-lined plate and remove 3/4 of the bacon fat from the pan. Add extra-virgin olive oil, onions, and red chili flakes. Cook until onions are translucent, add garlic, cook for 2 minutes then add tomatoes. Saute for 5 minutes, then deglaze with wine.
- Drain pasta and add to the tomato mixture pan. Add basil and bacon. Toss with Parmesan, and add salt and pepper, to taste.
CHEESY LEEK & BACON PASTA
A creamy and comforting quick pasta recipe, ideal for when you're short on time
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Dinner, Main course
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Add the leeks and 2 tbsp water, and cook for about 10 mins until very soft. Add the bacon, turn up the heat and fry until cooked.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta following pack instructions. Drain and reserve a mug of the cooking water.
- Spoon cheese into the leek and bacon mix, adding some of the reserved cooking water. Season and stir gently over a low heat until melted. Toss through the cooked pasta, adding a little more cooking water, if needed, to help the sauce coat the pasta.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 556 calories, Fat 18 grams fat, SaturatedFat 7 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 76 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 4 grams sugar, Fiber 4 grams fiber, Protein 23 grams protein, Sodium 1.5 milligram of sodium
BACON AND MACARONI
I've prepared this dish on the stovetop and in the microwave...either way, it's a down-home dinner that my husband can't resist. The blend of bacon and cheese is unbeatable. - Stephanie Savage, Rushville, Missouri
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 25m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large skillet, cook bacon; drain. Reserve 1 tablespoon drippings in skillet. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons parsley, sugar, garlic powder and pepper to drippings; cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes. Stir in macaroni; heat through, stirring occasionally. Combine cheese and remaining parsley; sprinkle over casserole. , Microwave Directions: In a 2-qt. microwave-safe baking dish, heat bacon on high for 2-1/2 minutes; discard fat. Microwave on high 2-3 minutes more or until bacon is crisp. Reserve 1 tablespoon drippings; stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons parsley, sugar, garlic powder and pepper. , Cover and cook on high for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in macaroni; cover and cook on high for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Combine cheese and remaining parsley; sprinkle over casserole.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 307 calories, Fat 24g fat (9g saturated fat), Cholesterol 29mg cholesterol, Sodium 597mg sodium, Carbohydrate 16g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 7g protein.
MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH BACON AND TOMATO
Make and share this Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon and Tomato recipe from Food.com.
Provided by seahorse73
Categories Pork
Time 1h5m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Generously butter a 1/12 quart baking dish.
- Add 1/4 cup of the bread crumbs; shake to coat dish evenly.
- Heat large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook pasta until al dente, about 7 minutes.
- Drain.
- Place in large bowl.
- Melt butter in large saucepan.
- Whisk inflour; cook, stirring, 2 minutes.
- Add nutmeg; cook 1 minute.
- Whisk in milk all at once.
- Heat to boil; simmer, stirring, 5 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Remove from heat; stir in cheeses until melted.
- Add sauce to pasta, mix well.
- Spoon 1/2 mixture into prepared baking dish.
- Add tomatoes and bacon in an even layer.
- Top with remaining macaroni mixture.
- Combine 1/2 cup of the remaining bread crumbs with olive oil in small bowl.
- Sprinkle over macaroni.
- Bake until golden and bubbly, about 45 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 898.4, Fat 58.4, SaturatedFat 25.5, Cholesterol 124.3, Sodium 1026.8, Carbohydrate 62.2, Fiber 7.1, Sugar 1.5, Protein 32.2
Tips:
- Selecting the right macaroni: Use high-quality macaroni or pasta that holds its shape well during cooking and doesn't become mushy. For a more gourmet touch, try using artisan or whole grain pasta.
- Cooking the bacon: Cook the bacon until it's crispy and golden brown to infuse the macaroni and cheese with a rich, smoky flavor. You can also use pre-cooked bacon to save time.
- Preparing the vegetables: Finely chop the leeks, celery, and tomatoes to ensure they blend well with the other ingredients and don't overpower the dish. You can sauté the vegetables in a pan or roast them in the oven for a slightly caramelized flavor.
- Making the cheese sauce: Use a combination of sharp cheddar and Parmesan cheeses for a bold and flavorful cheese sauce. You can also add other cheeses like Gruyère or fontina for a more complex flavor profile.
- Mixing it all together: Combine the cooked macaroni, vegetables, cheese sauce, and bacon in a large bowl and mix gently to evenly distribute the ingredients. You can also top the macaroni and cheese with additional cheese before baking it in the oven for a golden brown crust.
Conclusion:
Bacon, leek, and tomato macaroni and cheese is a delectable dish that combines the richness of bacon, the sweetness of tomatoes, and the aromatic flavor of leeks with the comforting goodness of macaroni and cheese. It's perfect for a family dinner, a potluck, or as a side dish for a special occasion. With its vibrant colors and irresistible taste, this dish is sure to be a hit among both kids and adults. So next time you're looking for a delicious and satisfying meal, give this bacon, leek, and tomato macaroni and cheese a try – you won't be disappointed!
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