Jack Daniel's Smoky Bacon Mac & Cheese

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 50 min
Serves: 6 people
Difficulty: Medium

Ingredients

1lbs (16oz) dry elbow pasta
16 oz smoked bacon (uncooked)
2 tablespoon unsalted butter
3.5 cups milk
8 oz Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
8 oz Shredded Italian blend cheese
1/2 cup Jim Beam Burbon (Jack Daniel's ok also)
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 cups Panco (mixed with a bit of melted butter)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions

1. Melt 4 tablespoon butter in a bowl and stir in the 1 1/2 cups Panco, set aside
2. Measure out spices and put in a small bowl or something
3. Measure out the Jim Beam and add in the 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire, and chicken broth
4. Measure out the flour and milk
5. Once everything is measured out and ready start the oven heating to 300
6. Half fill a large pot with water and put over high heat, add a tablespoon or so olive oil to keep pasta from sticking
7. Put a large skillet (non-stick) over medium heat, using kitchen scissors, cut up all the (raw) bacon into the pan and cook until done
8. While the bacon is cooking, when the water is boiling, add the pasta and cook for 5 minutes. It won't be cooked through (Al Dante) Drain immediately, and put back in the large pot
9. Once bacon is cooked, remove from pan and drain. Save 2 tablespoon of bacon drippings and discard the rest
10. Put the skillet back over med heat, return the saved bacon dripping to the pan, and add the butter. Once melted add flour and whisk to combine (stirring rapidly) (it will look like a paste kinda) (DON'T let it burn)
11. Add the Jim Bean, Worcestershire, Chicken broth, and spices to the pan, still stirring constantly. (It will thicken up rapidly, DON'T let it burn)
12. Add milk, keep stirring, bring back to a gentle bubble
13. Stir in the cheeses, bring back to a little bubble while slowly stirring (Cheeses will melt)
14. Turn off the heat and pour sauce into the pot of Al Dante noodles, mix evenly
15. Scoop into 9X13 Casserole dish and smooth flat.
16. Sprinkle Panco mixture on top
17. Bake uncovered at 300 for 25 minutes, then move dish to top of oven and turn on broil until Panco has browned