Loaded Bacon Mac and Cheese

Est. Cost: $15.98 | $2.66 per person

Estimated cost based on featured sale items only. Does not include common pantry staples (oil, salt, spices, etc.).

Boxed macaroni turned into something worth serving for dinner with crisp bacon and real sharp cheese stirred through. The shortcut nobody at the table will notice.

Ingredients

Directions

Step 1: Cook the chopped bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, then lift it out and reserve the fat.

Step 2: Boil the macaroni from all three boxes according to the package and drain.

Step 3: Return the pasta to the pot and stir in the cheese packets, milk, butter, and two tablespoons of the bacon fat.

Step 4: Take the pot off the heat and fold in the shredded Cooper Sharp until it melts smooth.

Step 5: Stir in most of the bacon and season with the black pepper.

Step 6: Spread the macaroni in a baking dish and toss the breadcrumbs with a little melted butter.

Step 7: Scatter the crumbs over top and broil for 3 minutes, watching closely, until golden.

Step 8: Finish with the remaining bacon and the green onions.

Chef's Tip: Cook the bacon first and use a few spoonfuls of the rendered fat in place of some of the butter, which carries more flavor than the packet ever could. Adding the real cheese off the heat keeps it from breaking into a grainy mess. A handful of buttered crumbs under the broiler for three minutes gives you the crust that separates this from what comes out of the box.

Save by using Catching the boxed macaroni on the mix and match sale and dressing it up with sale-priced bacon and deli cheese and Serve with A sharp slaw or pickled vegetables to cut the richness.