Macaroni and Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Bacon

Description

Very intense, rich dish due to the sharpness of the cheeses melded with spicy, creamy, and tangy flavors.

Ingredients

  • 1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
  • ¼ cup butter
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
  • 4 cups grated Asiago cheese
  • 4 cups grated Vermont Cheddar cheese
  • 4 slices bacon
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 large onion, sliced thin
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ⅛ teaspoon brown sugar
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • ¼ cup panko bread crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups milk
  • ½ teaspoon ground mustard
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil
  2. add macaroni and cook for 8 minutes (noodles will still be slightly hard). Drain noodles and transfer to a large bowl with 1/4 cup of butter and toss to coat. Whisk together the sour cream
  3. egg
  4. and cream cheese; add to the pasta and mix well. Stir in 3 cups of grated Asiago and 3 cups of grated Cheddar cheese
  5. reserving the remaining 2 cups of cheese for the topping.
  6. Place the bacon in a large
  7. deep skillet
  8. and cook over medium-high heat
  9. turning occasionally
  10. until evenly browned
  11. about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate and chop into small pieces.
  12. Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  13. Stir 2 tablespoons butter
  14. the onion
  15. and garlic into the bacon drippings in the pan and cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low
  16. and add the brown sugar. Cook
  17. stirring occasionally
  18. for 10 to 15 minutes until the onions are very soft and golden brown. Mix the cooked bacon
  19. parsley
  20. and panko breadcrumbs into the onions
  21. transfer mixture to a small bowl and set aside.
  22. Return the skillet to the heat and melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour
  23. and stir until the mixture becomes paste-like and light golden brown
  24. about 5 minutes. Gradually whisk the milk into the flour mixture and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook and stir until the mixture is smooth and thickened. Stir in the ground mustard
  25. paprika
  26. salt
  27. pepper
  28. and hot sauce. Remove sauce from heat and let cool for five minutes.
  29. Pour the sauce over the macaroni mixture
  30. stirring well. Transfer to a greased 9×13 inch pan and sprinkle with the remaining 2 cups of Cheddar cheese. Top cheese with the onion breadcrumb mixture.
  31. Bake in preheated oven until bubbling
  32. hot and golden brown on top
  33. about 30 minutes.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 1 hr

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins

Servings: 8

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