The Pioneer Woman Tasty Kitchen
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Fancy Macaroni

4.75 Mitt(s) 16 Rating(s)16 votes, average: 4.75 out of 516 votes, average: 4.75 out of 516 votes, average: 4.75 out of 516 votes, average: 4.75 out of 516 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5

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Level: Easy

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Description

A majorly stepped-up version of macaroni and cheese packed with four cheeses, caramelized onions, and bacon crumbles. Serve it alongside a juicy steak and you have the best meal on earth. Maybe Heaven, too.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups Macaroni
  • 8 Tablespoons Butter (Salted Butter)
  • 2 whole Medium Onions, Cut In Half And Sliced Thin
  • 10 slices Regular Bacon
  • 1 Tablespoon Bacon Grease (reserved From Bacon Slices)
  • ¼ cups All-purpose Flour
  • 2 cups Whole Or 2% Milk
  • ½ cups Half-and-half
  • 2 whole Egg Yolks, Beaten
  • Salt And Pepper, to taste
  • ½ cups Grated Gruyere Cheese
  • ½ cups Grated Fontina Cheese
  • ½ cups Grated Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
  • 4 ounces, weight Chevre (soft Goat Cheese)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook macaroni for half the time of the package instructions. Drain and set aside.

Fry bacon until slightly, but not overly, crispy. Drain on a paper towel. Reserve grease.

Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a skillet and then saute onions over medium-low heat for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown and soft. Set aside.

In a pot, melt 4 tablespoons butter (and add 1 tablespoon of the reserved bacon grease for good measure!). Sprinkle in flour and whisk to combine. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat for 1 minute. Pour in milk and half & half, then cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until thick. Reduce heat to low. Add salt & pepper to taste. (Do not undersalt!)

Beat egg yolks and drizzle 1/4 cup hot mixture into the yolks, stirring constantly. Stir to combine. Pour egg mixture into sauce and cook for another minute.

Add cheeses and stir until melted. Add onions and bacon and stir. Taste for seasonings and add more salt if needed. Add cooked macaroni and stir to coat.

Pour into a baking dish and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until sizzling and hot. Serve with red meat or a green salad.

19 Comments

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Melanie C. on 1.6.2011

Everything is prepped and ready to make tonight, I have been dreaming of this day. Finally it is hear. I was so excited that my Publix (grocery store) had all the items to make it. A plus, the Gruyere cheese is smoked… this should make it pop even more! I just hope my hubby will accept the goat cheese with a smile ;)
Thank you for posting Ree!

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mrsthor on 12.14.2010

ok… my first mistake was to make this for thanksgiving! now that my parents have had a taste, i will have to make it two more times this year! hee hee. it makes me look like a master. thank you!!

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vpireiner on 10.4.2010

LOVED IT!!! Absolutely fabulous!

My only change would be to use more cheese and maybe more bacon (b/c you can never get enough of either) or maybe top with a little of both.

This will definitely be something I fix regularly.

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Lauren Haughain on 5.4.2010

I made this around new years and I loved it so much I made it again for Easter! Man, do I love my macaroni and cheese but with bacon AND caramelized onions? Excuse me while I faint.

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Senkyoushi on 4.16.2010

This is great!!! And this is coming from someone who is not a big Mac and Cheese fan.

16 Reviews

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vpireiner on 2.14.2012

I’ve made this a couple times now and I absolutely love it. I will say that I have increased the cheese (partly because I can never seem to find the right quantities and partly because you can never have too much cheese)…so I’ve used the 6oz goat cheese logs, and about a cup of the rest of the cheeses. I also used the whole lb of bacon instead of limiting to 10 slices…again…more is always better when it comes to bacon!

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Gigi Fernandez on 12.28.2011

This turned out so ridiculously good. Thank you so much for this awesome recipe.

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Karie @ The HoB on 9.29.2011

Oh this is the best mac and cheese ever!! So creamy and full of flavor!

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Natalie on 6.11.2011

OMG!! I made this for Easter & my whole family just went nuts! Everyone had to have the recipe. It’s now on the top of my list for holidays!

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honeychild on 4.16.2011

My go-to mac and cheese recipe!

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