Plenty of people are passionate about food – good food – and perhaps none more so than the people out there who read and comment on food blogs. And that’s where we got dinner tonight.
On the post about National Pasta Month, reader Anna mentioned her friend’s “desperation” macaroni & cheese. Broccoli & bacon + macaroni & cheese. It may have been created in a moment of desperation, but there is nothing second-rate about it.
I modified our favorite stovetop macaroni and cheese recipe to use what we had in the cheese & veggie bins: fontina, cheddar, bacon, and 1 1/2 crowns of the saddest looking broccoli you’ve ever seen. If you’re unfamiliar with the original recipe, it uses fat-free, high-protein Greek yogurt in the cheese sauce. The yogurt and fontina help the cheddar melt into a smoother sauce. If you can’t get fontina, try white American cheese – just using more cheddar and other less melt-friendly cheeses won’t be very pretty.
You can feel good about yourself for adding broccoli. And just feel good about the bacon 🙂
Broccoli and bacon make macaroni and cheese a one-dish dinner.
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 4 thick slices of bacon, cut into small pieces
- 1 1/2 crowns of broccoli, cut into florets
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt (I use fat-free Greek)
- Dash of hot sauce
- 4 oz fontina, shredded
- 4 oz cheddar, shredded
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
Notes
Yields: 4 generous servings
Source: Confections of a Foodie Bride
Estimated time: 20 minutes
22 comments… add one
That looks great!
Interesting to read how you make you cheese sauce. Is it “healthier” than the milk/flour version?See AlsoSouthern Baked Macaroni and Cheese RecipeThis Recipe Is Spinach Artichoke Dip in the Form of *Pasta*Macaroni N Cheese Recipe (With Bacon and Broccoli)Slow Cooker Creamy Macaroni and Cheese RecipeI guess it depends on how you look at it, there’s probably a good argument for both varieties. I use fa*ge 0% because 1) I like the taste of it and 2) it’s loaded with protein, far more than any other plain or Greek-style yogurt. That’s really the selling point of that yogurt for me for me. Another reader has told me that she used light sour cream in the original version and her kids liked it more than the yogurt variety.
That is a great idea to use yogurt for the cheese sauce…I can’t wait to try that out!!! We usually always have some sad looking broccoli in our fridge that needs used. This really does look great:-)
This looks fantastic! I have never heard of using Greek yogurt in the sauce but I can’t wait to try this!
This looks amazing! I cannot wait to make this. *adding broccoli and yogurt to shopping list*
Amazing! What a healthy, fun twist on traditional mac and cheese!
Angela
All of my favorites in one dish! Mouth watering!!
anything with bacon – sign me up!
It looks so rich and creamy! What a great combination. It would also be good with a few sun-dried tomatoes. I love them in dishes like this.
Mmm, I’m so into broccoli right now so this is perfect. I wish I had it for dinner tonight!
Patti T.
I sing the praises of fat free Greek yogurt all the time, can’t believe I didn’t think of this. The recipe sounds fantastic and something my whole family would enjoy. Thanks for a great idea.
I’ve been meaning to make your mac and cheese for ages! I love all the veggies you threw in here…but DESPERATE it is not. 🙂
Donna Jahn
Can you get me the calories per serving and the protein as well?
Thanks,
Donna J
TNMmm, leftover broccoli in the fridge right now, I think this might have to be my recipe of choice for dinner tomorrow! Looks delish! PS – LOVE the idea of using yogurt instead of a buttery bechamel sauce! Now if only foodgawker would accept some of MY pics! LOL
Diane
Oh my, that looks devine, I can almost taste – can not wait to make this. Thank you, thank you.
Debra
Good Grief this is AMAZING…I started drooling at the name, the photo’s took it over the edge and my keyboard has been drowned.
You are speaking my language, Shawnda… looks amazing! 🙂
You can’t go wrong with pasta, cheese, broccoli, or bacon. All four together is dreamy!
I know what I’m making for dinner. This looks great!! 🙂
Definately adding this to my recipe list, thank you.
This was insanely good, for being so insanely easy. Thanks for this keeper!
PS – I went ahead and invited some Pepper Jack to the party, just for kicks 🙂Great post.
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