Ina Garten's "Grown Up" Mac and Cheese | Food Network

The Barefoot Contessa transforms this childhood classic into a comforting dinner with the addition of crispy bacon, blue cheese and bread crumbs!

Have you downloaded the new Food Network Kitchen app yet? With up to 25 interactive LIVE classes every week and over 80,000 recipes from your favorite chefs, it's a kitchen game-changer. Download it today: http://food-network.app.link/download!

Subscribe to Food Network: https://foodtv.com/2WXIIWZ

Get the recipe: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/grown-up-mac-and-cheese-recipe-1937496

Grown Up Mac and Cheese
RECIPE COURTESY OF INA GARTEN
Level: Easy
Total: 1 hr 10 min
Prep: 10 min
Cook: 1 hr
Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

4 ounces thick-sliced bacon
Vegetable oil
Kosher salt
2 cups elbow macaroni or cavatappi
1 1/2 cups milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated
3 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated
2 ounces blue cheese, such as Roquefort, crumbled
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch nutmeg
2 slices white sandwich bread, crusts removed
2 tablespoons freshly chopped basil leaves

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place a baking rack on a sheet pan and arrange the bacon in 1 layer on the baking rack. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the bacon is crisp. Remove the pan carefully from the oven - there will be hot grease in the pan! Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels and crumble when it is cool enough to handle.

Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.

Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. Melt the butter in a medium pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or 2 more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, blue cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and crumbled bacon and stir well. Pour into 2 individual size gratin dishes.

Place the bread slices in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until you have coarse crumbs. Add the basil and pulse to combine. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the top of the pasta. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.

Subscribe to our channel to fill up on the latest must-eat recipes, brilliant kitchen hacks and content from your favorite Food Network shows.

Stream full episodes and more : http://watch.foodnetwork.com/
Like Food Network on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoodNetwork
Follow Food Network on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodnetwork/
Follow Food Network on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FoodNetwork
Visit Food Network online: http://www.foodnetwork.com