Comforting Mac ‘n Cheese
Thank you, Marie-Pier Lupien, for this recipe. While winter is doing its thing, assemble the ultimate winter survival kit—your coziest blanket and a hot bowl of mac ‘n cheese. It’s cheesy, creamy, and decadent, but still light enough that it won’t put you in a post-feast slump.
Ingredients
- 2 cups bite-size pasta, your choice
- 4–6 slices bacon
- 1⁄4 cup heavy cream
- 1⁄4 cup water
- 2–4 tbsp cheese spread, such as Velveeta® or Cheez Whiz®, optional
- 1 pkg Mac & Cheese Seasoning
- 1⁄2 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 400° F.
- Cook pasta in a large pot or Multipurpose Steamer according to package directions. Before draining, reserve 2 tbsp pasta water. Drain remaining water.
- Meanwhile, chop bacon into small pieces. Fry in Sauté Pan over medium-high heat until crispy, about 6 min.
- Reduce heat to low. Add cream, water, and cheese spread, if using, to pan; stir until combined. Stir in seasoning and reserved pasta water, then add pasta and toss to combine. Spread out mac & cheese to cover the base of the pan. Sprinkle on shredded cheese.
- Transfer pan to oven. Bake 10 min, or until cheese is melted and turning golden brown.
Epicure Products Used
Nutritional Information
Per serving: Calories 470, Fat 24 g (Saturated 11 g, 0.2 0 g), Cholesterol 60 mg, Sodium 710 mg, Carbohydrate 45 g (Fiber 2 g, Sugars 6 g), Protein 17 g.
Tips
Swap steamed, chopped cauliflower for pasta for a low-carb, cheesy casserole.
Stir your favourite Epicure spices in with the Mac & Cheese Seasoning. Marie recommends 3 Onion Dip Mix, Creamy Ranch Dip Mix, and SPG Seasoning!
Epicure’s Sauté Pan is oven-safe up to 400° F. If you don’t have an oven-safe pan, transfer mac & cheese to a baking dish before sprinkling on shredded cheese and placing in the oven.