In this Instructable, I will show you how to make easy Mac and Cheese with bacon! Although the bacon is certainly optional. This creamy macaroni and cheese recipe is super easy to make, taste amazing, much better than that store-bought boxed Kraft brand mac and cheese. If I can make it you can make it, let's get cooking!

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Follow the easy steps below or watch the short video tutorial or do both! :)

Step 1: Ingredients and Tools

Ingredients:

1 cup cottage cheese (225g)
2 cups milk (whole or 2%, not 1% or skim) (500mL)
1 tsp. dry mustard (5g)
1/4 tsp. grated nutmeg (basically a pinch) (1g)
1/2 tsp. iodized/table salt (2.5 g)
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper (1g)
2 Tbsp. butter (30g)
1 lb extra-sharp or sharp cheddar or blended cheese - grated (460g)
1/2 lb of large elbow pasta (macaroni) (226g)
Bacon

Tools:

Blender
Spatula
9 to 10inch square or round pan or pot (oven-safe)
Bowl

Step 2: Blend the Milk and Cottage Cheese

Begin by preheating the oven to 375 F/190 C with the rack in the upper-middle position.

Next, add the cottage cheese, milk, mustard powder, pepper, nutmeg, and salt. Blend it all together for a few seconds until combined. If you don't have a blender, you can also just hand whisk it all together in a bowl.

Step 3: Butter That Pan and Add the Cheese!

Take a 9 or 10 inch round pan or pot/deep skillet and add the butter to it. Use the butter to grease the bottom and sides of the pan. Then add half of the cheddar cheese to the bottom of the pan. Followed by all of the elbow macaroni pasta. I like using the larger sized elbow pasta.

Step 4: Milk and More Cheese Then Bake

Now pour the milk mixture over the pasta and cheese. Then take the rest of that cheddar cheese and mix it in. Yes, lots of cheese!

Notice how we didn't have to boil the pasta first. It will cook and soften while in the oven.

Cover the pan or pot with foil. And bake it in the oven for 30 minutes.

Step 5: More Cheese and Bacon

After the 30 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and stir the macaroni and cheese. Add some butter on the top and then layer the fourth cup of cheese on top.

Then put it back in the oven, uncovered for another 25 to 30 minutes until the top gets golden brown and the cheese melts.

Remove it from the oven and then sprinkle on your cooked bacon if you like. I mean, yeah, bacon!!