Cheesy Baked Macaroni with Bacon, Sausage, and Veggies

Ingredients

Main Components:

- 2 cups macaroni

Cheese Sauce:

- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups milk
- 8 oz Velveeta, cubed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Seasonings:

- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Toppings & Add-Ins:

- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup peas
- 1 cup broccoli florets, chopped
- 1/2 cup Rotel (diced tomatoes and green chilies)
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/4 cup jalapeños, sliced
- 4 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup sausage, cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup diced ham

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven:
- Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to preheat.

2. Cook the Macaroni:
- Boil a large pot of water and cook 2 cups of macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

3. Prepare the Cheese Sauce:
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter.
- Add 2 tablespoons of flour and whisk continuously for about 2 minutes until the mixture turns a light golden color.
- Slowly add 2 cups of milk while whisking to prevent lumps. Continue to whisk until the sauce thickens, approximately 5 minutes.
- Lower the heat and gradually add 8 oz of Velveeta cubes, stirring until melted and smooth.
- Stir in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese until fully melted.

4. Flavor the Sauce:
- Mix in 1 tablespoon of mustard, 1 teaspoon each of onion and garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of paprika, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Stir until well combined.

5. Combine Ingredients:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked macaroni, cheese sauce, 1/2 cup of peas, 1 cup of chopped broccoli, 1/2 cup of Rotel, 1/2 cup of diced tomatoes, 1/4 cup of black olives, 1/4 cup of chopped jalapeños, and the cooked bacon, sausage, and diced ham.

6. Assemble and Bake:
- Transfer the mixture into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Sprinkle 1/4 cup of breadcrumbs evenly over the top of the macaroni.

7. Baking:
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes, until the top is golden brown and crispy.

8. Serve:
- Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your cheesy, savory macaroni dish!

Total Time

PT45M
45 minutes

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

macaroni and cheese, baked pasta, cheesy dinner, comfort food, pasta casserole, bacon and sausage pasta, veggie macaroni, oven-baked mac, gourmet dinner, cheesy bake

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total: 3200 calories

#CheesyDelight #BakedMacaroni #ComfortFood #DinnerIdeas #PastaLover