This four cheese macaroni and cheese with bacon is a twist on one of my favorite holiday side dishes. On Thanksgiving we do the traditional turkey and cranberries meal, but on Christmas we have a baked ham and that’s when the ooey gooey comfort of mac and cheese makes an appearance on the holiday table.
And this extra cheesy twist on the classic is the best macaroni and cheese I’ve ever had. The best.
Four Cheese Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon
I usually use a combination of two cheeses to make mac and cheese, but when I went grocery shopping, I saw an assortment of four cheese varieties in one package from Great Midwest® Cheeses, and I felt inspired to go cheese-crazy four times over!
Now technically, it was probably designed for crackers and whatnot, but the varieties and amounts in this particular gourmet cheese tray were perfect for a four-cheese macaroni and cheese with bacon.
More than perfect.
Begin by making a roux, and I promise you it’s easy as long as you whisk, whisk, whisk. You pretty much want to be whisking from start to finish, and it will turn out to be the creamiest, cheesiest most wonderful mac and cheese you’ll ever taste.
When the cheese sauce is ready, dump in your pasta and stir to coat.
Pour it all in a baking dish and then add more cheese.
YES. More cheese.
Cover with TONS of crumbled bacon, then bake it for 15 minutes.
Prepare to fall in love – a bite at a time.
The combination of all four melted kinds of cheese PLUS bacon is ecstasy. Pure ecstasy.
You may never be the same again.
Ingredients
- 1 16 oz box uncooked elbow macaroni
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded colby cheese divided
- 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese divided
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese divided
- 1 pkg bacon cooked crisp and crumbled
Instructions
-
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray.
Cook pasta according to directions; drain and set aside.
In Dutch oven stockpot over medium heat, melt butter. Slowly add flour, continuously whisking. Whisk in chicken broth. Slowly add cream, whisking throughout. Gradually add 3/4 cup of each of the four cheeses while continuing to whisk until smooth.
Add pasta to cheese sauce, stirring to mix well. Turn into the casserole dish and spread evenly. Add the remaining cheese on top. Sprinkle crumbled bacon over cheese.
Bake 15 minutes.
This four-cheese macaroni and cheese is creamy, ooey, gooey magic, I tell ya.
Perfection. Cheesy perfection.
Put a spin on your holiday classic and try all the Great Midwest® flavored Cheddar & Jack Cheeses!
Sandy says
I’m curious. Can you make it a day ahead and cook it the next?
Liz says
I’ve never tried that, so my honest answer is that I don’t know. If you decide to try it, let me know how it comes out!
Jennifer Hellman says
I’ve done it ahead of time with my home made mac n cheese with ham on top. You’ll want to bake it for about 25-30mins instead of 15 and take it out of the fridge about 30mins or a bit more before you bake it.
shelly peterson says
I love home made mac n cheese. I have not made it in years though. This is a must try recipe.
Dandi D says
Oh, wow, my children are crazy about mac and cheese and they would love this!
Amy D says
This looks incredible. I have never put bacon on macaroni and cheese, but I am going to try this now.
Kiwi says
Wow you use 4 cheese in this? This looks delish and amazing.
Our Family World says
This is pure, gastronomic bliss. OMG, this is by far the best mac and cheese recipe. Let me gather the ingredients I need and I will be making this asap. Thanks for sharing!
Anosa says
I pledge and volunteer a baked mac for our party next week and I am looking for variety of this. Glad I found your recipe. I am excited to try it out and share to our party!
Kita Bryant says
Excuse me while I stare at these pictures for a bit. Gosh, this is one of the best mac and cheese recipes I’ve seen!
Brandy says
I must have this four cheese macaroni and cheese with bacon in my life. Sounds and looks super yummy! My belly is growling now! Hopefully we get stove fixed so I can whip this up over weekend 🙂
Julie @ Running in a Skirt says
You had me at mac & cheese! This looks like the perfect cozy recipe– so tasty!
Dogvills says
Oh so mouth watering goodness! 4 different kinds of cheese and a crispy bacon topping. This is pure heaven in every spoonful. I have to make this asap!
Tami Qualls says
I love bacon, maybe a little too much. My daughter and I both love mac-n-cheese, so I’m sure this will be a frequently served dish in our home.
Rosemary Palmer says
I love mixing cheeses in dishes. And BACON – who wouldn’t love it. A great main dish. Two of my favorite food groups – besides chocolate.
Rose Cottrill says
My son would dig into this real quick. He love cheese, bacon, and macaroni! You gave me an idea of what to make him.
Rosey says
I like that you weren’t shy with the bacon. This is a dish my kids would devour in an instant!
Jonna says
Homemade Mac n Cheese is one of my absolute favorite comfort foods. I can’t wait to try this one out at home. 4 different cheeses?! YUMMY!
Sarah says
Isn’t bacon with mac n cheese the best!? Your recipe sounds tasty, I’m going to have to give it a try.
Sara Welch says
This is definitely going on the menu for a side dish option at Thanksgiving! I can’t wait to see the kids’ faces XD
Heather says
I’ve picked up those yummy cheese varieties before, but never added them to recipes. Normally I just hide by the appetizers and nibble on slice after slice. This girl loves her cheese.
Crystal says
Mac & cheese is magical in its own rite, but then you add bacon! Oh my gosh, this recipe sounds amazing.
Sandy N Vyjay says
Love macaroni and cheese combo, however, will try this recipe out with a vegetarian substitute for Bacon. I am sure it will turn out well.
Meagan Paullin says
Oh my heckin heart – this looks SO good!!!
My daughter is a huge mac n cheese junkie, and I’m always looking for new recipes to try. This is definitely going on the list!
valmg @ Mom Knows It All says
Look at all that cheese! And look at all that bacon! I may have drooled a little on my keyboard just now!
Travel Blogger says
Oh my! This is just heavenly! Mac and Cheese is my favorite dish, and this is just amazing! I have got to try and make this!!
Dawn Lopez says
I don’t think there is a way to go wrong with four different cheeses in a mac and cheese dish. Then you went the extra distance and added BACON too. It’s like a total upgrade to the classic variety. I’m going to give this recipe a try over the holidays.
krystal says
Everything is better with bacon! I’d love to remake this for the holidays.
Kathy says
Wow, this looks amazing! I’m going to have to make this soon. I love having mac and cheese, and this looks really good.
Pam says
Four cheeses AND bacon? My family would absolutely love this macaroni and cheese. Yum.
Claudia Krusch says
This four cheese macaroni and cheese with bacon looks so delicious and easy to make. I will have to get the ingredients I need to make this on the weekend. I am sure it will be a big hit.
Sapphire Kharyzma says
I will be making this recipe for my kids. I will also try one without bacon for me! This looks so good!
Kristi says
I am pinning this for sure. Cheese, Bacon and pasta… all my favorites in one dish!
reesa says
This right here screams comfort food for me! I need to make this for my family!
Glamamom says
This looks like a total crowd pleaser and great for a party too!
Jocelyn @ Hip Mama's Place says
That package is perfect for the Holidays that are coming this month and the next. I love that you can use this for cheese boards or for recipes like mac and cheese! How convenient!
Bonnie G says
Holy moly! Pass that dish over here please. That is the best macaroni and cheese I have ever seen!
Carol Cassara says
I love the idea that you used it for mac and cheese. Your recipe is easy and it looks so darn good! I’m craving for a bowl of mac and cheese right now. I’d love to make this and I’m glad you found cheese packaged together so easily.
AnnMarie John says
I just love how easy this recipe is to make. The kids are slaves to mac and cheese and I love that you can enjoy four cheeses in one package! That’s also nice for parties!
Cathi says
Oh my YUM! Could mac and cheese be anymore scrumptious than this? I love the four cheeses! And… right about now I’m wishing I wasn’t vegan… Ha!
Erin Fesperman says
What do you get when you combine the two most fab foods? THIS EXACT RECIPE!
Your four cheese with bacon mac looks (beyond) phenomenal! I can’t wait to try it!
Pam says
I know right? Cheese and bacon are perfect together. This sounds so good.
Amy says
This mac & cheese recipe looks so good and reminds me of my recipe I made in a recent mac & cheese throwdown. I love adding bacon and think it really kicks things up a notch.
Jaime says
This looks amazing!! Four cheeses AND bacon? It doesn’t get much better than this recipe – the ultimate comfort food.
Patty says
There can never be too much cheese if you ask me. Bacon makes everything better. I haven’t had mac and cheese in a dog’s age. I’m now craving some
Melissa Chapman says
That is a mac and cheese that my son would love. Though we never made it with bacon I am sure he would like it and ask for seconds and thirds.
Heather Johnson says
Yum! You had me at four cheeses and bacon! Your macaroni and cheese recipe with bacon looks and sounds amazing!
Jenna Wood says
Bacon was made for mac n cheese in my opinion, and the more types of cheese, the better the mac. I’m definitely trying this recipe out with the family.
Catherine Sargent says
This looks so yummy. I love Mac and Cheese and adding bacon to it makes it even better! I am going to make this recipe for Thanksgiving
Marcie W. says
Just when I thought I could not possibly love macaroni and cheese anymore than I already do, you go and use four different cheese AND add bacon! This recipe is an absolute must try. Yum!
Tomi C says
Bacon. Did you say BACON! With mac ‘n cheese. OMG, my mouth is watering thinking this combo would make the best ever mac ‘n cheese ball appetizers. YUMMY!
Natasha says
This is torturous! The bacon on that alone is worth me getting up this morning! This is how we make our mac & cheese (roux based) for the most part, but I have never in life even thought of adding bacon, and now I’m questioning my last 37 years on Earth!
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh says
The more the cheese flavors the merrier! I love loading my mac and cheese down with several different cheese varieties!
Makeba Giles says
An awesome comfort food! I love the combination of the 4 cheeses and bacon!
Scott says
One of our favorite dishes is mac-n-cheese made with real cheese. Sometimes we do splurge and do the fancy cheeses like this too!
Jeanette says
Bacon makes EVERYTHING better and I think that calories don’t count when there is something like this. It is heaven on a plate!
Amber Myers says
Oooo yum! I just love macaroni and cheese and when you add bacon to it? YES! I am making this for dinner this week! I could eat macaroni and cheese daily.
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
This mac and cheese sounds incredible. I love that it’s made with four different cheeses. And bacon makes everything better. Can’t wait to make this!
candy says
Adding bacon to an all time favorite is a no brainer. Everyone is going to love the bacon on top. Just have to make a double batch.
Alli Smith says
We love mac and cheese with bacon! It takes it to a whole new level. I loved that you used four different kinds of cheese. Yum – my favorite comfort food of all!
Robin rue says
I LOVE that you put bacon in it because mac & cheese is SO Much better with bacon in it. This sounds amazing and I can’t wait to try it.
Bill Sweeney says
“With bacon”. That’s all you had to say. “With bacon”. I will definitely be making this for the weekend. I cannot resist all that bacon AND all that cheese.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
Yasssssss! This is the best mac and cheese recipe ever! Not only did you use FOUR different kinds of cheeses, you threw some bacon at it, too. Dee-lish!