Skillet Mac & Cheese with Ham and Bacon

Skillet Mac & Cheese with Ham and Bacon Ingredients

3 cups elbow macaroni

2 cups of ham, cubed

1/2 cup bacon, cooked and chopped - about 4 slices of bacon

3 tbsp canola oil

2 cups cheddar cheese

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

1/4 cup all purpose flour

2 cups milk

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

4 oz. cream cheese, cubed

1 tsp Dijon Mustard

Skillet Mac & Cheese with Ham and Bacon Directions

1. Add the salt and water to a large pan and bring to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni pasta to the large pot and cook, uncovered, for 1 minute less that the instructions on the box. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water when draining the pasta.

2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the ham and bacon. Cook the bacon and chop or crumble to pieces and set aside. Cut the cooked ham into cubed pieces and set aside. You can also used precooked diced ham.

3. Preheat the skillet over medium heat for a few minutes. Add the oil to the skillet to heat up. Then add the flour and whisk it into the oil until there are no lumps and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.

4. Slowly whisk in the milk, cream, cream cheese, and Dijon mustard. Bring the mixture to a simmer and then let it cook until it is slightly thickened, about 3 to 5 minutes. Then reduce the heat.

5. Slowly whisk in the cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, working in batches, until they are fully melted.

6. Add in the reserved pasta water and whisk it in to think out the sauce some.

7. Add in the prepared cooked ham and bacon. Stir the meat into the pasta so it is blended in well.

8. Top with panko breadcrumbs and bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes or until the breadcrumbs are lighly toasted.