Bacon Burger Mac 'n' Cheese

Name: Bacon Burger Mac 'n' Cheese
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H15M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT1H10M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT1H25M0.000S
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds hollow cavatappi pasta; Salt; 1 tablespoon EVOO; 12 ounces smoky bacon (12 slices), chopped; 1 1/2 pounds ground beef sirloin; Coarse black pepper; 1 onion, finely chopped; 1/2 cup beef stock; 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 6 tablespoons butter; 5 tablespoons flour; 3 cups milk; 4 cups shredded yellow Cheddar; 1/3 cup organic ketchup, plus some for garnish; 1/3 cup yellow mustard, plus some for garnish; 2 tablespoons pickle relish, plus some for garnish; 1 tablespoon hot sauce; Chopped iceberg lettuce; Diced tomatoes; Chopped raw white or red onions; Bread and butter pickle chips

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Level: Easy
Total: 1 hr 25 min

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 1 hr 10 min

Yield: 8 servings

Level: Easy
Total: 1 hr 25 min

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 1 hr 10 min

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds hollow cavatappi pasta

Salt

1 tablespoon EVOO

12 ounces smoky bacon (12 slices), chopped

1 1/2 pounds ground beef sirloin

Coarse black pepper

1 onion, finely chopped

1/2 cup beef stock

3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

6 tablespoons butter

5 tablespoons flour

3 cups milk

4 cups shredded yellow Cheddar

1/3 cup organic ketchup, plus some for garnish

1/3 cup yellow mustard, plus some for garnish

2 tablespoons pickle relish, plus some for garnish

1 tablespoon hot sauce

Toppings:

Chopped iceberg lettuce

Diced tomatoes

Chopped raw white or red onions

Bread and butter pickle chips

Directions

Watch how to make this recipe.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Salt the water and cook the pasta shy of al dente, 5 to 6 minutes.
While the water comes to a boil, heat the EVOO in a Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and remove some of the drippings, leaving a thin layer. Add the beef, brown and crumble, but leave a few larger pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Once the beef has caramelized, add the onions and cook to tender. Add the stock and Worcestershire, then reduce the heat to low.
In a saucepot over medium to medium-high heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour, cook 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and season with salt and pepper. Thicken to coat the back of a spoon. Stir in the cheese. When the cheese has melted into the sauce, stir in the mustard, ketchup, relish and hot sauce. Combine the pasta with the sauce and fold in the meat. Place in a large casserole dish. Cool and store for a make-ahead meal.
To serve, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bring the casserole to room temp then bake until brown and bubbly on top and golden at edges, 45 to 50 minutes.