Skillet Bacon Mac and Cheese

A spoonful of skillet mac and cheese with bacon, held above a pan of macaroni and cheese.

Skillet Bacon Mac and Cheese

This easy Skillet Mac and Cheese recipe is a yummy main course or side dish. It has a cheesy sauce with smoky bacon cooked perfectly in a cast iron skillet.

Prep Time10

Cook Time25

Total Time35

Servings: - 8 servings

Calories: 842kcal

Author: Karin and Ken

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