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Ultimate Loaded Baked Potato Mac And Cheese


  • Author: Sally Roberts
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings

Description

Ultimate Loaded Baked Potato Mac And Cheese is a creamy, cheesy comfort food casserole packed with tender macaroni, crispy bacon, sour cream, cheddar, and green onions for the ultimate easy dinner, cozy family meal, and crowd-pleasing food idea that works for weeknight dinners, potlucks, and holiday tables.


Ingredients

12 ounces elbow macaroni

6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

4 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3 cups whole milk

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 cup sour cream

2 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

1/2 cup green onions, sliced

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper


Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the elbow macaroni until just al dente. Drain and set aside.

3. Cook the bacon until crisp, then crumble it and reserve a small amount for topping.

4. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.

5. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux.

6. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking constantly, and cook until the sauce thickens.

7. Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.

8. Reduce the heat to low and add the cream cheese, 2 cups of cheddar cheese, and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Stir until smooth.

9. Mix in the sour cream until fully incorporated.

10. Add the cooked macaroni, most of the bacon, and most of the green onions, then stir until evenly coated.

11. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.

12. Top with the remaining cheddar cheese, remaining mozzarella cheese, and reserved bacon.

13. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until hot, bubbly, and lightly golden on top.

14. Remove from the oven, let it rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with the remaining green onions and serve.

Notes

Cook the pasta just until al dente so it stays tender after baking.

Use freshly shredded cheese for the smoothest, creamiest sauce.

Add a splash of milk when reheating leftovers to bring back the creamy texture.

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 610
  • Sugar: 5g
  • Sodium: 760mg
  • Fat: 34g
  • Saturated Fat: 18g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 13g
  • Trans Fat: 0.5g
  • Carbohydrates: 49g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 25g
  • Cholesterol: 88mg

Keywords: ultimate loaded baked potato mac and cheese, baked mac and cheese, easy dinner, comfort food casserole, cheesy pasta bake, family dinner, potluck recipe, food ideas