Stovetop & Oven

Bacon, Tomato and Green Pea Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Name: Bacon, Tomato and Green Pea Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 1 pound dried pasta; 1½ cups green peas (frozen); 1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved (about 2 cups)); Cheese Sauce:; 6 slices bacon (chopped (1-inch pieces)); 1 small onion (finely chopped (about 1 cup)); 6 tablespoons flour; 2 teaspoons dried mustard powder; 4 cups milk (room temperature); 3 cups grated Swiss cheese (preferably Gruyere); 2 cups grated Cheddar cheese; 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 2 teaspoons salt freshly ground black pepper; Topping:; 2 cups breadcrumbs (preferably coarse homemade crumbs); 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves (rough chopped); 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley; ½ teaspoons salt

This classic macaroni and cheese recipe adds bacon, tomatoes and green peas for a pop of color and some delicious flavors too.

Featured In My CookbookComfortable in the Kitchen Jump to Recipe (or scroll for photos and riveting information...)

Featured Recipe Techniques

More about the skills used in this recipe.

How to Cook Pasta

Cooking pasta is something that pretty much everyone knows how to cook - boil water, add pasta. However, there are...View Technique

Advertisement - Continue Below

Bacon, Tomato and Green Pea Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Nutrition Info Print Recipe

Prep Time: 20 m
Cook Time: 45 m
Total Time: 1 h 5 m
Servings:
8

Ingredients

1 pound dried pasta
1½ cups green peas frozen
1 pint cherry tomatoes halved (about 2 cups)
Cheese Sauce:
6 slices bacon chopped (1-inch pieces)
1 small onion finely chopped (about 1 cup)
6 tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons dried mustard powder
4 cups milk room temperature
3 cups grated Swiss cheese preferably Gruyere
2 cups grated Cheddar cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons salt freshly ground black pepper
Topping:
2 cups breadcrumbs preferably coarse homemade crumbs
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves rough chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
½ teaspoons salt

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 350 ̊F.
Heat a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions, adding the green peas to the pot for the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain the pasta and set aside.
In the meantime, heat a 2- to 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook to render out the fat – about 6 to 8 minutes. When the bacon is almost crispy, remove the bacon from the pan and set aside. Add the onion to the pan and cook until translucent and very tender, but not brown. Add the flour and mustard powder and stir, cooking for 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Stirring regularly, bring the sauce to a boil. Once it has boiled and thickened, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the grated cheeses, salt and pepper.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta and peas, cooked bacon, cherry tomatoes and cheese sauce. Fold everything together and transfer to a casserole or baking dish. Combine the topping ingredients and spread the mixture on top of the pasta. Cook in a 350 ̊F oven for 30 to 40 minutes.

Enjoy,

If you made this recipe, please add your comments and ratings below.

Hello! All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you’ve made this recipe and would like to share it with your friends, please link back to Bacon, Tomato and Green Pea Mac ‘n’ Cheese on Blue Jean Chef. Thank you!