Panko Crusted Pancetta Mac 'n Cheese

Ingredients

Servings

6 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 14 16

US / METRIC

1 lb

Pasta , cooked

1/4 cup

Unsalted Butter

1/4 cup

All-Purpose Flour

1 cup

Milk

I used 2% organic

2 cups

Heavy Cream

2 cups

Shredded White Cheddar Cheese

1/2 tsp

Ground Black Pepper

1 tsp

Dry Mustard

1/4 cup

Panko Breadcrumbs

as needed

Spray Butter

1 pckg

Pancetta , chopped

or Chopped Bacon

Cooking Instructions

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Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).

Step 2

In a large pot on medium-high heat, add the Unsalted Butter (1/4 cup) and cook until melted. Whisk in the All-Purpose Flour (1/4 cup) and cook for about 1 minute.

Step 3

Reduce heat to medium and add Milk (1 cup) , Heavy Cream (2 cups) , Dry Mustard (1 tsp) , and Ground Black Pepper (1/2 tsp) . Whisk until it begins to bubble.

Step 4

Reduce to low and add Shredded White Cheddar Cheese (2 cups) . Stir until melted.

Step 5

Add Pasta (1 lb) , stirring until combined. Remove from heat. Place the mac and cheese in an oven-safe skillet and flatten it lightly. Sprinkle Panko Breadcrumbs (1/4 cup) evenly over top and spray with Spray Butter (as needed) .

Step 6

Bake for approximately 10 minutes at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). You may increase to no more than 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) if it's taking too long to become golden on top.

Step 7

While the mac and cheese bakes in the oven, cook the Pancetta (1 pckg) in a pan until golden with no oil. It will release its own fat.

Step 8

Once mac and cheese is ready, sprinkle the cooked pancetta over top and enjoy!