Bacon Mac and Cheese Pizza...Happy DANCE!

Hello, foodies…

The In the Kitchen with David team and I had a whole lot of fun when we were reading through your ITKWD Road Trip entries, only we were STARVING by the time we were finished. Y’all ate some REALLY good food when you were in college…and lots of you are still eating it! The minute we had chosen the finalists, we made a beeline to the café and ordered the cheesiest, meatiest foods we could find.

I tried not to play favorites…I really did. But Michele from Layton, Utah wrote to me about a Bacon Mac & Cheese Pizza and I insisted that dish be part of the June line-up. And that I taste-test the WHOLE pie after we develop it.

Bacon Mac & Cheese Pizza
Serves 8-10

This recipe is prepared with the Cook's Essentials® Hard-Anodized 11-Piece Cookware Set (K42101).

Go to David's Recipe Item Page for the full list of items that David has used in his recipes.

Ingredients:

1 lb bacon
1-1/2 Tbsp bacon fat (reserved from bacon)
2 Tbsp flour
3/4 cup milk
4 cups shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1/4 tsp ground mustard
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1 cup dry elbow macaroni, cooked
1 lb pizza dough

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lay out the bacon slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Cook the bacon until crisp, but still slightly underdone. Remove the bacon from the baking sheet and drain it on a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve the bacon fat for later use.

2. Increase the oven temperature to 450°F. Set aside 6 whole slices of bacon and chop the remaining bacon. Add the flour and 1-1/2 Tbsp of bacon fat to a medium-size saucepan. Cook, while stirring, on medium heat for 30 seconds. Add the milk and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. When the sauce begins to simmer, remove the pan from the heat and add 2 cups of the shredded cheese, mustard, salt, and pepper. Stir until all of the cheese has melted, returning the pan to the heat, if needed. Add the chopped bacon and the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir to combine. Set aside.

3. Spray a 12" pizza pan with cooking spray. Spread the pizza dough out on the pan so there is about an 1-1/2" hanging over the diameter. Cut the whole slices of bacon in half widthwise and lay it out creating a circle about 1" from the edge of the crust. Stuff the bacon into the crust by folding the dough over the bacon creating a 1/2" raised edge. Pinch the dough to seal the edge on the inside. Brush the crust with the reserved bacon fat. Spread 1 cup of cheese over the pizza. Spread the bacon mac and cheese near the edge of the dough. Top with the remaining cheese.

4. Bake for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove the pizza from the pan with a large spatula and put the pie directly on the oven rack. Bake for an additional 10 minutes. Slide the pizza back onto the pan and remove it from oven. Let the pizza cool for at least 5 minutes before slicing.

Michele & Friends at Slackwater Pub

That’s Michele in the hat…and all those gals are at Slackwater! This is what Michele told me (which sold me!) in her entry: “They also serve freshly made pizzas, calzones, salads, nachos, sandwiches, wine and have many brews to choose from. Our favorite is the MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH BACON PIZZA…HELLO…happy dance times infinity!”

So where is this magical restaurant? It’s in Ogden, Utah right near Weber State University. I don’t know if Slackwater would approve of our pizza, but you all give it a go and let us know what you think. And if you’re a regular at Slackwater, tell us how ours measures up!

Bacon Mac & Cheese Pizza

Now what dad would turn down a Bacon Mac & Cheese Pizza? None that I know. Since Father’s Day is right around the corner, you might keep this recipe in your back pocket and treat dad. And, if you’re looking for a great Father’s Day gift, think no further than...the grill and his stomach! Here are a few terrific ideas on QVC.com you may not have seen:

Cuisinart Bacon Grilling Rack K304288