Bacon and Caramelized Onion Macaroni and Cheese
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
This is the perfect macaroni and cheese dish when you're wanting to really treat yourself. So crazy good!!
Recipe type: Main
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 3 Onions, medium or large, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
  • 8 strips of Bacon (prosciutto or pancetta)
  • 8 oz Elbow Pasta
  • ⅔ cup Heavy Cream
  • ⅓ cup to ⅔ cup Milk (or more – for more or less creaminess)
  • 1 cup freshly shredded sharp White Cheddar Cheese
  • ½ cup grated Gruyere cheese
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt (or more – to taste)
  • Cayenne Pepper, to taste
  • pinch of Paprika, to taste
  • Ground Pepper, to taste
Preparation Instructions
  1. Begin by cooking your bacon. I opted for the oven at 350 degrees until it's crispy just so I didn't have an additional pan on the stove.
  2. Then it's time to caramelize the onions. You'll grab a large skillet and heat about a tablespoon of olive oil over high heat. Once the oil is hot add the onions. Stir constantly for 10 minutes. The onions will browning nicely and shouldn't burn if you're stirring frequently. After 10 minutes turn the heat down to medium and continue stirring very regularly. Then add a pinch of salt and turn the heat down to medium or low heat and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The onions will cool for a total of 30 minutes. Then remove from the heat and add 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and stir until the vinegar is well incorporated.
  3. While the onions are going, get a pot of water boiling for the pasta and then cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Then drain the pasta and run cold water over it and set aside until you're ready for it.
  4. Once the bacon is cooked, chop it into small pieces.
  5. All that is left is to make the sauce. In a large sauce pan heat the cream and milk over medium heat along with the cheeses. Once the cheese is nearly melted, add the pasta and cook for 3-5 minutes. Then in goes the onions and bacon. Stir and serve! You can also add more shredded cheese over the dish when serving to take it over the top!
Recipe by Can Cook, Will Travel at https://cancookwilltravel.com/bacon-and-caramelized-onion-macaroni-and-cheese/