Baked Bacon and Cheese Macaroni for 2.

Cheese and bacon macaroni for two.Photo byJustina Price

Cooking for one or two is always a challenge if you are like me, I tend to cook too much and if I don’t give the extra to a neighbor or co-worker it winds up in the trash. And cookbooks aimed at cooking for one or two are scarce and hard to find most require too many ingredients mostly items I don’t have in my pantry. In this article I will show you how to make a delicious homemade bacon and cheese baked macaroni dish using items that you most likely have on hand. It takes very little time to make and perfect for two or one with leftovers. This dish is great as a side with baked fish or as meal with sauteed veggies so good either way.

Start by gathering all the ingredients you need. Always start with this step so you will know if you are out of something.

¾ cup macaroni

¼ tsp salt and pepper.

¼ tsp garlic powder

¼ tsp Italian seasoning

¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes

¼ tsp parsley

two small baking dishes

¼ cup real bacon pieces in a bag or 4 slices of bacon cooked and crumbled.

1 tbsp. flour

1 tbsp butter

¾ cup milk

¾ cup shredded Chedder Cheese or your favorite Shredded Cheese

Italian Breadcrumbs

Macaroni and CheesePhoto byJustina Price

Start with at least a 4-quart heavy bottom pan add water and 1 tsp. salt when water is boiling add ¾ cup macaroni and boil until al dente (not mushy) drain and set aside.

Melt 1 tbsp butter using the same pan as you boiled the macaroni.Photo byJustina Price

In the same pan that you used for the macaroni and using low-medium heat melt 1 tbsp. butter.

sprinkle the flour over the butter.Photo byJustina Price

Add the flour and whisk until smooth making sure there are no lumps.

Add milk slowly to the butter and flour.Photo byJustina Price

Whisk milk into the butter and flour slowly until smooth and again with no lumps.

Add cheese to the flour and milk mixture.Photo byJustina Price

Now is the time to the add salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, pepper flakes, parsley add the shredded cheese and stir with a wooden spoon until smooth.

Add Bacon to the cheese mixture.Photo byJustina Price

Add bacon to the cheese mixture and stir together.

Add macaroni to the cheese and bacon mixture.Photo byJustina Price

Add macaroni stir until the cheese and macaroni are mixed well.

Pour macaroni and cheese into baking dishes.Photo byJustina Price

Pour the macaroni and cheese into baking dishes and sprinkle with Italian breadcrumbs. Bake in a preheated 375* oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Enjoy!!