Red Hot Chipotle Bacon Mac and Cheese

Chipotle peppers in adobo provide the heat, red bell peppers the bright color, and bacon lends its smokiness to this garlic-infused mac and cheese.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 50 mins
• Calories: 597 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups milk
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 6 slices bacon
• salt and pepper to taste
• 8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
• 8 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (Optional)
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• ¼ teaspoon cumin
• 1 (16 ounce) box Barilla® Elbows
• 1 ½ cups Barilla® Roasted Garlic Sauce
• 1 canned chipotle chile in adobo, or more to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bake in preheated oven until bubbly, about 20 minutes.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 2 1/2- or 3-quart baking dish.

Step 3

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain. Return pasta to pot; cover. Keep warm off heat.

Step 4

Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned and crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels. Crumble.

Step 5

Puree milk, heavy cream, cumin, salt, pepper, and chipotle pepper in a blender or food processor. Pulse until the pepper is completely incorporated into the mixture, 8 to 10 pulses.

Step 6

Place butter and minced garlic in a saucepan over medium-high heat; stir until butter is melted. Whisk flour into butter mixture, and continue whisking until flour starts to turn golden brown, about 1 minute. Slowly add pureed milk and chipotle mixture to the saucepan, whisking until there are no more lumps. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium.

Step 7

Stir Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses into the cream mixture, stirring until the cheese is melted. Add roasted garlic sauce and mix thoroughly. Transfer mixture to pot with cooked pasta; stir. Pour into prepared baking dish.

Step 8

Remove from the oven. Stir in crumbled bacon and chopped bell pepper. Bake until lightly browned, about 10 more minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley.