If you love macaroni and cheese, I highly recommend that you try this Skillet Mac and Cheese for dinner this week. It makes a great side dish or main course. I have even made it for potlucks and everyone devours it.
This mac and cheese skillet has a velvety cheese sauce filled with salty bacon that adds a great depth of flavor to the whole dish. It’s flavorful and tasty — and so much better than Kraft!
If you like easy bacon recipes, you will love Slow Cooker Chicken Stew with Bacon and Cream Cheese Casserole with Bacon and Ham.
Why You’ll Love This Skillet Mac and Cheese Recipe
- Kid favorite: Little ones love mac and cheese and this recipe is no exception.
- One pot meal: All of the ingredients are cooked in a single pan to save on time and cleanup.
- Budget-friendly: This is the perfect inexpensive meal to make for dinner any time.
Ingredients
Here are all of the components needed for this cast iron skillet mac and cheese. You have the pasta, cheese, bacon, and other components to make a rich and delicious sauce.
- Elbow macaroni: I like to use elbows because they are classic. Rotini, medium shells, and cavatappi are great choices, too.
- Bacon: I chop and cook the bacon in the same skillet to infuse even more bacon flavor into the mac and cheese.
- Garlic: Minced garlic adds a great aroma to the bacon as it cooks. It also enhances the flavors of the cheese and spices.
- Evaporated milk: This is how I get the sauce perfectly creamy. It has less water content than regular milk resulting in a smooth consistency that has a lower chance of curdling.
- Spices: I add mustard powder, salt, and pepper. The mustard powder adds a sharp and tangy flavor to balance the richness of the cheese.
- Cheese: For this skillet macaroni and cheese, I use a combination of Monterey Jack and cheddar. The sharp flavor of the cheddar and mild Monterey Jack complement each other wonderfully. They also melt really well.
- Water and broth: To cook the pasta, I add both water and broth. The water will evaporate as the noodles cook and the broth adds flavor.
- Cornstarch: I use the cornstarch to thicken the cheese by making a slurry with some of the evaporated milk. It helps to achieve the right thickness.
- Hot sauce: The small amount of hot sauce adds a very subtle heat that I feel tastes great with the other ingredients. You may leave it out or use less of it if you prefer.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Caramelized onion: Add some caramelized onions for depth of flavor and a little sweetness.
- Broccoli: Chopped broccoli adds flavor and texture to this mac and cheese.
- Add a breadcrumb topping: Combine breadcrumbs and melted butter and top the mac and cheese. Put it under the broiler in the oven to get crispy.
How to Make Skillet Mac and Cheese with Bacon
Here are all of the steps needed to make the best mac and cheese skillet! It’s easy and made all in a single cast iron pan. Chop your bacon and garlic before you start cooking so it’s ready when you need it!
Step 1: Cook the bacon. Cook the chopped bacon in a cast-iron to render the fat but don’t let it become too crispy. Stir in the minced garlic and cook it for about 30 seconds. Transfer the bacon and garlic to a paper towel-lined bowl or plate.
Step 2: Cook the elbow macaroni. Heat the water, some of the evaporated milk, and salt in the same skillet with most of the grease wiped out. Boil and then add the pasta into the skillet and cook it for about 8 minutes or until it’s al dente.
Step 6: Stir in the cheese.
Step 3: Make and add the slurry. Combine the rest of the evaporated milk, cornstarch, mustard powder, black pepper, and hot sauce in a small bowl. Whisk together and then stir it into the pasta. Cook until it starts to thicken.
Step 4: Add cheese and bacon. Gradually add the cheeses one handful at a time and stir until they are melted. Last, take it off the heat and stir in the bacon. Enjoy for dinner!
⭐️ Hint: Add more water to adjust the consistency of the cheese sauce if it's too thick.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy Crockpot Bacon Mac and Cheese, Jalapeno Mac and Cheese, Crockpot Chili Mac, Mac and Cheese Meatloaf or Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac and Cheese.
Storage Directions
- Refrigeration: Store leftovers of this macaroni and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: Cool the mac and cheese completely. Then, place it in a freezer-safe container and freeze it for up to 3 months. Bake it from frozen or thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before baking it. The texture may change slightly when thawed out.
- Reheating: Reheat this mac and cheese in the microwave to save time. For best results, place it into a small saucepan over low heat. Add a little bit of milk if needed to thin out the sauce.
Serving Suggestions
This easy mac and cheese is so versatile! Enjoy it as a side dish or main dish, and I love to take along to parties or potlucks when I need to serve a crowd.
Turn up the heat and add Jalapeno Hot Sauce on top. Serve this mac and cheese as a main course with a tasty veggie on the side like Slow Cooker Cabbage or Balsamic Green Beans.
Pair it with Air Fryer Chicken Tenders or Sous Vide Pork Chops as a tasty accompaniment.
Need some more inspiration? Check out our collection of what to serve with mac and cheese for more!
Recipe Tips
- Use leftover bacon: To save time, chop up leftover cooked bacon and add it towards the end of the cooking process.
- Add salt to taste: The bacon, cheese, and broth add salty flavor to the macaroni so ensure that you taste it before adding too much salt.
- Shred your cheese: I highly recommend that you shred the cheese instead of buying it packaged. It melts better because it isn’t coated in any anti-caking agents.
Recipe FAQs
If you let the heat get too high, it can cause the cheese to separate so ensure that you keep the heat no higher than medium. You may fix your grainy sauce by adding more milk to see if it will stabilize.
If you choose to cook the macaroni separately, omit the water and broth from the cheese sauce.
More Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Do you like macaroni and cheese? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Skillet Bacon Mac and Cheese
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups elbow macaroni large
- ½ pound bacon diced, cooked until crisp, if desired
- 2 cloves garlic minced or ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper or more to taste
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese shredded
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 ¾ cups water plus more as needed
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
Instructions
- In a large cast iron skillet, cook the thinly sliced bacon at medium heat until it’s almost crispy.
- You want to crisp the bacon. Just before the bacon reaches the “crispy” phase, add the garlic to the skillet and mix it well with the bacon until it becomes fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove the bacon and garlic mix to a bowl covered in paper towel and set it aside. Wipe skillet leaving a little grease for flavor.
- Bring water, broth, 1 ¼ cups evaporated milk, and ½ teaspoon salt to simmer in skillet over medium-high heat. Add macaroni and cook, stirring often, until macaroni is al dente, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Whisk remaining evaporated milk, mustard powder, cornstarch, pepper and hot sauce in small bowl, then stir into skillet. Simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 minute.
- Off heat, stir in cheeses, one handful at a time, adding water as needed to adjust consistency. Add bacon, if using and stir until incorporated. Serve.
Notes
- Add salt to taste: The bacon, cheese, and broth add salty flavor to the macaroni so ensure that you taste it before adding too much salt.
- Shred your cheese: I highly recommend that you shred the cheese instead of buying it packaged. It melts better because it isn’t coated in any anti-caking agents.
- Use leftover bacon: To save time, chop up leftover cooked bacon and add it towards the end of the cooking process.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in April 2022. It has been updated with new content and images.
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