Well this is one of my favorite Mac & Cheese recipes of all time!!
The 3 Cheese blend give you a very sharp, very bold cheese taste. The bacon… well its bacon, so it is fantastic, but when it is paired with the smoked paprika and the Jack Daniels, it makes you feel like this dish came right off the BBQ. Last but not least, the blend of chili paste and chili powder gives you the right amount of heat! Not so much that it overwhelms the dish, but enough to let you know it is there.
Jack Daniels Bacon Mac & Cheese
Credit: The Slow Roasted Italian
Ingredients
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt + more for the pasta water
- 12 oz of peppered bacon
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp chili pepper paste ( I use SAMBAL OLEK)
- 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups milk
- 115g extra-sharp white cheddar, shredded
- 60g smoked Gouda cheese, shredded
- 60g Asiago cheese, shredded
- 225g dry elbow pasta
Directions
- Bring an 8 quart covered pot filled with water to a boil over high heat. Once it boils, add a handful of salt and pasta. Reduce heat to medium high and cook uncovered to al dente (has a bite to it). Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile warm a large 12” skillet (cast-iron works great if you have one) over medium-high heat. Using clean kitchen shears cut bacon into bite size pieces over the skillet and let them to fall into the pan. Stir occasionally as needed. Cook until crisp.
- While the bacon is cooking, shred cheeses and prepare remaining ingredients.
- Once bacon is cooked through, remove bacon to a bowl with a slotted spoon. Reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings and discard the rest. Wipe the side of the skillet to avoid flame ups
- Pour reserved bacon drippings back into the skillet over medium heat and add butter. Once melted add flour and whisk to combine. Add spices, chili paste, Worcestershire, whiskey and chicken broth. Whisk to combine. Allow to come to a bubble for 3 minutes, whisking occasionally to help pick up the bits on the bottom of the pan. Add milk. Whisk to combine. Bring back to a bubble and add cheeses. Stir until cheese is melted and smooth.
- Add pasta to sauce and stir to combine. Add bacon. Cook pasta in sauce for 5 minutes over medium heat until sauce thickens and the pasta has a chance to absorb some of the sauce.
- Serve and enjoy!!
The recipe is easy to increase if you want to make more servings. Literally double the ingredients, the ratios will work out perfect. Just remember that this is a one pan meal so don’t forget to increase the size of your skillet when you do. Please give this recipe a try and then leave me a comment to let me know how it turned out. Enjoy!!
Where to eat and what to cook in the amazing world that is the food scene in Winnipeg 