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BLT Mac and Cheese
BLT Mac and Cheese
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Prep Time:
30 minutes
Cook Time:
35 minutes
Total Time:
65 minutes
Creamy BLT mac and cheese with tomatoes, bacon, and peppery arugula.
Ingredients:
  • 0.5 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
  • 6 slices bacon, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 0.25 cup bacon grease
  • nonstick cooking spray
  • 0.25 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 (14 ounce) can diced petite-cut tomatoes
  • 1.5 cups milk, or more as needed
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup chopped broccoli
  • 1 cup arugula leaves, or more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice, or to taste
Instructions:
  • Boil a pot of lightly salted water. Cook elbow macaroni until al dente, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 11 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, crisp up bacon pieces, turning occasionally, until beautifully browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towels to absorb excess grease. Set aside 1/4 cup of bacon grease and discard any extra or save for later.
  • - Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and generously coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Add 1/4 cup of bacon grease back to the skillet, adjusting the heat as needed. Whisk in flour until smooth, then let it bubble gently for about 1 minute. Stir in canned tomatoes with their liquid and milk, whisking until the mixture is smooth and thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. If the mixture is too thick, simply add a bit more milk to reach your desired consistency.
  • Mix in the sharp Cheddar cheese until it melts smoothly into the sauce. Adjust consistency by adding a touch of milk if desired. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Fold in grape tomatoes and broccoli, then gently mix in the cooked and drained noodles until they are well coated. Transfer the mixture into the baking dish and top it off with crispy bacon pieces.
  • Bake until the top is bubbly and broccoli is crisp-tender, 20-30 minutes in the preheated oven. Toss arugula with lemon juice and serve on top of the mac and cheese.

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