| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 45 min |
| Prep: | 10 min |
| Cook: | 35 min |
| Yield: | 6 to 8 servings |
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 45 min |
| Prep: | 10 min |
| Cook: | 35 min |
| Yield: | 6 to 8 servings |
Ingredients
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 onion, cut into 1/4 inch dice
- Kosher salt
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 quart whole milk, plus more as needed
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- Tabasco or other hot sauce
- 1 pound medium shells or other short pasta
- 2 cups grated Cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)
- 2 cups grated fontina cheese (about 8 ounces)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 4 ounces)
Instructions
- Drizzle a bit of olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the bacon and set the pan over medium heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until brown and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and drain on paper towels. Do not discard the bacon fat: Reserve that deliciousness!
- Add the butter and onion to the pan with the bacon fat; season with salt and cook until the onion is soft and aromatic, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture looks like wet sand, about 3 minutes.
- Slowly whisk in the milk, mustard and a few shakes of Tabasco. Season with salt and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer until the mixture is slightly thicker than heavy cream, 6 to 8 more minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook 1 minute less than the instructions on the package suggest. Taste it: It should be toothsome, with just a little nugget of hard pasta still in the center-this is al dente. Drain the pasta.
- Add the Cheddar, fontina and Parmesan to the milk mixture and whisk to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning, if needed, adding a little more milk if the mixture seems too thick. Stir in the cooked bacon and pasta. The mixture should be very creamy and flavorful. Serve immediately. (If making ahead, transfer to a baking dish or ramekins, then reheat in a 375 degree oven.)
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 8 servings |
| Calories | 771 |
| Total Fat | 44 g |
| Saturated Fat | 22 g |
| Carbohydrates | 58 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 9 g |
| Protein | 34 g |
| Cholesterol | 109 mg |
| Sodium | 892 mg |
| Serving Size | 1 of 8 servings |
| Calories | 771 |
| Total Fat | 44 g |
| Saturated Fat | 22 g |
| Carbohydrates | 58 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 9 g |
| Protein | 34 g |
| Cholesterol | 109 mg |
| Sodium | 892 mg |
Reviews
Too much mustard and sauce is like glue. Taste ok.
Made this and followed the recipe as written. Way too much mustard flavor and WAY too salty, The sauce was like paste. Had one serving and dumped the rest. Very disappointed. Love Anne Burrell. I will make this again but add my own touch.
I followed the recipe as written and while the flavor of the sauce was decent there was WAY too much sauce. The pasta was literally drowning in it. Yuck.
Easy enough to make. I used a little too much mustard but flavors balanced out with the cheese and red pepper I used. I never cook my pasta with salt as none of my family likes to taste it. Overall good and tasty!
Killer recipe! Thank you so much!
Thank U Anne Burrell!!! UR recipe is Exceptionally Delicious, Beautiful & yes of course, It’s Delicious & Tasty
I was excited to try this but the mustard overpowered everything. I will make again but with less mustard.
Delicious!