The Mac Daddy Of All Mac N' Cheeses

Total Time: 46 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 1 min

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 lb germelli macaroni (or your favorite shaped pasta)
• 6 slices bacon, cut into thin strips
• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 lb baby bella mushrooms or 1/2 lb button mushrooms
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 cup fontina cheese, grated
• 1 cup smoked gouda cheese, grated
• 1/2 tablespoon fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 1/2 cup buttery cracker, crushed (i use ritz brand)
• 1/2 cup italian style breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup french's french fried onions
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Recipe

• 1 butter 1 quart square baking dishes with two tbsp of butter. cook the pasta for 2 min less than the package directions suggest, about 6-8 min; drain and return it to the pot.
• 2 in a small saute pan, melt 2 tbs of butter. add cracker and bread crumbs. stir until crumbs have fully absorbed the butter. remove from heat and let cool. in a bowl, mix together parsley, french fried onions and parmesan cheese. add cooled crumb mixture. set aside.
• 3 crisp up bacon in a large pot. remove bacon pieces with a spoon and set aside. pour off all drippings.
• 4 heat a tbs of olive oil to a medium sized sauce pot. saute onions and mushrooms until unions are tender, about 3-mins. add garlic stirring often until softened. remove from pan and return pan to heat. melt remaining butter in same pot over medium heat. sprinkle flour over butter and cook 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat, whisking until a roux or paste forms. add cold milk and whisk vigorously until dissolved. cook sauce on medium-low heat until thick and bubbly. add heavy cream, all cheeses, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. cook until cheeses are fully melted, stirring occasionally.
• 5 to the sauce, add the mushroom mixture, pasta and crispy bacon; stir to combine well. mixture will be slightly wet. divide evenly into prepared baking dishes and sprinkle with cracker topping.
• 6 you can freeze this to prepare later on. just cover completed unbaked mac n' cheese with plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. to bake, let thaw overnight in frig. remove plastic wrap then re-cover with foil, and bake at 350f until heated through, about 50-55 minutes. uncover and continue to bake until top is golden, 5-10 minutes.
• 7 to bake immediately: bake at 350f until golden brown.