↑

  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers
    • Main Dish
      • Casseroles
      • Main Dishes: Beef
      • Main Dishes: Pork
      • Main Dishes: Poultry
      • Main Dishes: Vegetarian
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Sandwiches
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
      • Slow Cooker
      • Instant Pot
      • Holidays
  • Travel
  • Fitness & Health
    • health
    • free workouts
    • buy chanelle’s eBook!
    • shop chanelle’s faves
  • Pets
  • Crafts & DIY
  • Lifestyle
    • entertainment
    • home decor
    • productivity
    • style & beauty

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

  • About Us
  • Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Eat Move Make

food | travel | lifestyle

  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers
    • Main Dish
      • Casseroles
      • Main Dishes: Beef
      • Main Dishes: Pork
      • Main Dishes: Poultry
      • Main Dishes: Vegetarian
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Sandwiches
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
      • Slow Cooker
      • Instant Pot
      • Holidays
  • Travel
  • Fitness & Health
    • health
    • free workouts
    • buy chanelle’s eBook!
    • shop chanelle’s faves
  • Pets
  • Crafts & DIY
  • Lifestyle
    • entertainment
    • home decor
    • productivity
    • style & beauty
Home » Recipes » Bacon Pistachio Mac and Cheese

Bacon Pistachio Mac and Cheese

By: Liz  /  Published: March 22, 2020  /  Updated: May 15, 2020  /   1 Comment

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
  • Share
  • Tweet
bacon pistachio mac and cheese

I can’t resist this bacon pistachio mac and cheese.

Oh, who am I kidding? I can’t resist ANY mac and cheese recipe but I really love the pistachio and pretzel crumb topping on this one. 

Yep, pistachios and pretzel crumbs — so good!

bacon pistachio mac and cheese in baking dish with spoon in it

To make bacon pistachio macaroni and cheese, start by finely grinding pistachios and pretzels in a food processor. I use this mini food processor for small jobs like this.

I have this full-size food processor (which was indispensable for making my cereal and graham cracker beach bungalow) but if I can get away with using a mini one for recipes, I do!

Would you believe when I first started making this mac ‘n cheese recipe I used a mortar and pestle? Thank goodness I found my mini chopper.

grind pistachios and pretzels in food processor

Chop the cooked bacon into bite-sized pieces and set aside. I used thick-cut bacon from the meat counter because that’s what I had on hand this week, but normally I just use packaged bacon.

bacon chunks

Bring water to a boil and cook the elbow macaroni al dente. Why al dente? Because it’s going to cook a little more when baked in the oven and cooking it al dente helps prevent it from overcooking to that weird smooshy texture.

While waiting for the pasta to cook, start making the cheese sauce. In a pot, combine milk, butter, yogurt and some of the cheese and heat on low to medium heat, stirring often until mixture is heated through and smooth. Then stir in the macaroni noodles.

stirring cheese sauce and macaroni in pot

Add some of the bacon (but reserve some for sprinkling on top). 

add bacon to mac and cheese in pot

Then pour everything into a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.

mac and cheese with bacon in baking dish

Sprinkle on the pistachio and pretzel crumb mixture. Then, add some more cheese, of course.

sprinkled cheese and pistachios over macaroni and cheese in baking dish

Throw on the rest of that bacon too.

bacon on top of mac and cheese

Now bake!

bacon pistachio mac and cheese fresh from the oven in baking dish

Then get your serving spoon in there and scoop out some of that ultra-creamy goodness for everyone in your family!

A close up of a dish of food with Cheese, macaroni and Pistachio

Bacon Pistachio Mac and Cheese

Pin this bacon pistachio macaroni and cheese recipe to Pinterest!

bacon pistachio mac and cheese

A close up of a plate of pistachio mac and cheese

Bacon Pistachio Mac n' Cheese

Liz - Eat Move Make
This homemade, hot and creamy bacon pistachio mac and cheese recipe takes baked mac and cheese to the next level. The crumbly topping is so good!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 40 mins
Course Entree
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 484 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup pistachios
  • 1/2 cup pretzels
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1/4 cup butter, cut into pieces (half stick)
  • 1 7 oz cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 3 1/2 cups grated Sharp Cheddar cheese divided
  • 1 16 oz pkg elbow macaroni
  • 8 slices bacon cooked and chopped in small pieces

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • With food processor, grind pistachios and until fine. Combine with plain breadcrumbs and pepper; set aside.
  • In a pot, combine milk, butter, yogurt, mozzarella cheese, and 2 1/2 cups of cheddar. heat on low to medium heat. Stir often until heated through and smooth.
  • While mixture heats, cook paste al dente; drain. Place pasta into casserole dish (sprayed with cooking spray).
  • Add bacon to milk/cheese mixture and pour over pasta. Top with the bread crumb mixture and remaining cheddar.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for approx 20 minutes.
All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only and nutrition may vary according to exact products and the online nutrition calculator being used. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on EatMoveMake.com should only be used as a general guideline.

Nutrition

Calories: 484kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 22gFat: 40gSaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 681mgPotassium: 269mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 906IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 506mgIron: 1mg
Keyword bacon, casserole, cheese, pistachios
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Related topics
Recipesbacon macaroni and cheese pistachios

About Liz

Liz is a midwestern mom gone southern (accent in transition). She lives in North Carolina and loves cooking, baking, traveling, movies, crafts, hot and cold tea, wine, pizza and the occasional nap. She also revels in the fact she's a crazy cat lady.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alissa A Apel says

    March 26, 2020 at 3:57 pm

    I have made something close to this before. It was so good!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

recipes in your inbox

Subscribe for the latest updates

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

The Latest

strawberry jello cake on plates

Strawberry Cake with Fresh Strawberries

mini glazed lavender lemon bread

Lavender Lemon Bread #SpringSweetsWeek

lemon lavender cheesecake slice on plate with fork

Lavender Lemon Cheesecake Bars #SpringSweetsWeek

mixed berry and citrus fruit salad

Citrus and Berry Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing #SpringSweetsWeek

decorated kumquat pie

Kumquat Pie #SpringSweetsWeek

cheesy pepperoni pizza potatoes

Pepperoni Pizza Potatoes

Eat Move Make is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com.

This means that some posts may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commission when you purchase through these links, which helps us create more great content! Full terms of use here.

Footer

Meet Liz

Hey there, i’m Liz!

I’m the founder of Eat Move Make and a North Carolina mom of two humans and six cats. I love to cook, bake, craft and travel. I’m also addicted to tea (but not sweet tea).

When I’m not creating something in my kitchen, and since my kids are now adults, I’m all about my bucket list of travel destinations and adventures.

recipes in your inbox

Subscribe for the latest updates

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.
©2021, Eat Move Make / About / Terms Of Use / Privacy Policy / Site by Pixel Me Designs