I was really in the mood for some comfort food and mac ‘n cheese was on my mind. I kept remembering a mac ‘n cheese dish I’d ordered in Vegas last October with Brussels sprouts in it and was determined that I could make one that was even better. So this week it was a mission to create my own recipe to make the perfect Bacon Brussels Sprouts Mac n Cheese.
Now if you’re a macaroni and cheese purist like my mom, then this may not sound too appealing. But for me, I ADORE mac ‘n cheese, and I look at the idea of adding things to this classic dish as a way to not only make more macaroni and cheese dishes here on my blog but also potentially find a recipe that knocks my socks off. My Swoon-worthy macaroni and cheese with caramelized onions and bacon is hard to beat, but this Bacon Brussels Sprouts Mac n Cheese was pretty damn good too.
So here’s what I did…I started off by roasting about 3 cups of sprouts. Then I simply cleaned them, cut off the stem and sliced them in half (or quartered them if they were big). Finally I tossed them with some olive oil and salt and pepper and roasted them for about 15-20 minutes. Once they were getting some color (but not burning), I removed them and went to work on cooking the pasta. While the pasta cooked I made a classic bechamel cheese sauce including some sharp cheddar, Parmesan and gruyere cheese.
Fold together the cooked pasta, cheese sauce, some chopped bacon and the roasted Brussels. Put that in a baking dish and top with some Panko bread crumbs and extra cheeses. Bake until it’s bubbling and starting to brown on the top. Then serve it up.
I think this is a great way to get your veggies in. Because really everything tastes better coated in cheese sauce. I loved the gruyere particularly to balance out the Brussels sprouts flavor.
I know one thing…if you like Brussels sprouts, this Bacon Brussels Sprouts Mac n Cheese is one dish you’ll enjoy. Can’t wait for you to try out this mac ‘n cheese. Click here for the recipe and step by step instructions.
A look back:
One year ago: Warming Slimdown Soup = Guiltfree Soup for Me!
Two years ago: Shrimp & Grits…Why Not?!
Three years ago: Not Your Average Chicken Soup…Lemon-Tarragon Chicken Soup
Four years ago: Fish Tacos…Uh, Yes Please!
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