Cracked Out Mac and Cheese

Cracked Out Mac and Cheese – easy baked macaroni and cheese recipe loaded with cheddar, bacon, and ranch. Super simple to make and tastes great. Pasta, butter, flour, heavy cream, milk, ranch dressing mix, cheddar cheese, bacon, cheez-it crackers. Comfort food at its best! Makes a great side dish or main dish. Can make this casserole in advance and refrigerate or freeze it for later. Add this to your menu ASAP! You won’t be disappointed.

Bacon Mac and Cheese Recipe

This recipe was inspired by a reader. They left a comment that they wanted me to make a Cracked Out Mac & Cheese recipe topped with crushed Cheez-its. Brilliant idea! I quickly started testing out recipes and finally perfected it! Tender pasta baked in a ranch cheese sauce with bacon and topped with Cheez-it crackers. OMG! This is the ultimate comfort food! You can serve this as a side dish or as a main dish. Either way, it is sure to become a family favorite.

How to Make Cracked Out Mac & Cheese

This casserole is super easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook in the boiling water per the package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside. 

In a large skillet, cook thick-cut bacon over medium heat until crispy. Drain on paper towels and chop.

In a medium saucepan or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium-high heat. Whisk in flour until it thickens and bubbles. Slowly whisk in heavy cream, milk, and ranch dressing mix. Continue to whisk mixture and cook until slightly thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in sharp cheddar cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted. Add cooked chopped bacon and cooked pasta to the cheese sauce. 

Spread pasta mixture in a baking dish. Sprinkle crushed cheez-its over top. Bake in the oven until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Garnish the dish with parsley.

Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

• Here is our recipe for Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-ranch-dressing-mix/
  • If you are sensitive to store-bought ranch dressing mix, make sure to adjust the amount to your personal preference.
• I use campanelle pasta. Penne pasta and elbow macaroni also work great.
• You can use whole milk or heavy cream.
• Add a dash of cayenne pepper for a little kick.
• If you don’t like Cheez-its, you can substitute panko bread crumbs or omit the bread crumbs altogether.
• Can Cracked Out Mac & Cheese be made in advance? Yes! You can assemble the casserole and refrigerate it overnight before baking.
• Can Cracked Out Mac & Cheese be frozen? Yes. Assemble the casserole and cool completely. Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil—place in the freezer.
  • To bake after freezing, thaw, and bake as directed.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

What to Serve with Cheez-it Topped Macaroni and Cheese

This has quickly become one of our favorite macaroni and cheese recipes. Kids and adults gobble this up! I am already planning on making this easy side dish again this weekend. We serve this with chicken, pork, and burgers. It is also great as a main dish with a salad. I’d gladly eat a large bowl of this cheesy pasta as my dinner. YUM! Add this to your menu ASAP! You will not be disappointed!

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Cracked Out Mac & Cheese

Author: Stephanie @ Plain Chicken

Yield: 6 people

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 35 mins

Cracked Out Mac and Cheese – easy baked macaroni and cheese recipe loaded with cheddar, bacon, and ranch. Super simple to make and tastes great. Pasta, butter, flour, heavy cream, milk, ranch dressing mix, cheddar cheese, bacon, cheez-it crackers. Comfort food at its best! Makes a great side dish or main dish. Can make this casserole in advance and refrigerate or freeze it for later. Add this to your menu ASAP! You won’t be disappointed.

• ½ lb campanelle pasta
• 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 Tbsp all purpose flour
• 1½ cups heavy cream
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 (1-oz) packet Ranch dressing mix
• ½ cup cooked chopped bacon pieces
• 1 cup crushed Cheez-it crackers

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

• Melt butter in a large saucepot over medium heat. Add flour and cook for 1 – 2 minutes, but do not brown. Whisk in cream, milk, and ranch seasoning.

• Bring the pot to a simmer. Cook until sauce is thick, about 5 – 6 minutes. Blend cheese into the sauce and add cooked pasta and bacon.

• Pour pasta and sauce into a 9-inch square baking dish. Sprinkle crushed crackers on top.

• Bake uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbly.

• Here is our recipe for Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-ranch-dressing-mix/
  • If you are sensitive to store-bought ranch dressing mix, make sure to adjust the amount to your personal preference.
• I use campanelle pasta. Penne pasta and elbow macaroni also work great.
• You can use whole milk or heavy cream.
• Add a dash of cayenne pepper for a little kick.
• If you don’t like Cheez-its, you can substitute panko bread crumbs or omit the bread crumbs altogether.
• Can Cracked Out Mac & Cheese be made in advance? Yes! You can assemble the casserole and refrigerate it overnight before baking.
• Can Cracked Out Mac & Cheese be frozen? Yes. Assemble the casserole and cool completely. Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil—place in the freezer.
  • To bake after freezing, thaw, and bake as directed.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

Steph