This macaroni and cheese recipe is comfort food at its best. Loaded with cappicolla ham and apple wood smoked bacon, it's what makes cheese-loving carnivores sing!
Loaded Mac and Cheese
Courtesy of Matt Higdon, Executive Chef of Maizies Café
Serves 6
½ cup diced cappicolla ham
2 strips apple wood smoked bacon (thick cut)
1T chopped garlic
½ cup diced yellow onion
½ cup heavy cream
¼ cup whole milk
½ cup shredded Cheddar
¼ cup shredded Asiago
½ t crushed red pepper
½ t black pepper
¼ cup sliced chives
8 oz cooked elbow macaroni
In a medium sauce pan toss in the first four ingredients render on low heat till bacon and ham are crispy.
Add heavy cream and milk let reduce by half.
Add shredded cheeses, spices and chives and let simmer until thickened.
Add cooked pasta and stir until combined. Divide evenly amongst 6 six-ounce dishes and top with bread crumbs (or keep in one large dish). Place under the broiler and brown for three minutes.
