BACON, RANCH, AND BACON MAC & CHEESE

BACON, RANCH, AND BACON MAC & CHEESE image

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

8 oz uncooked elbow macaroni
1 slice apple-wood smoked bacon
8 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut in ½" slices
1 T butter
1 T flour
1 ½ c milk
1/3 c cream of mushroom soup
¾ c Italian blend cheese, shredded
½ t onion powder
½ t garlic powder
½ t chopped fresh dill
½ t salt
Cooking spray
½ c shredded Colby-jack cheese

Steps:

1. Cook pasta according to pkg directions, omitting salt and fat; drain. 2. Cook bacon in skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove from pan, reserving drippings in pan. Finely chop bacon; set aside. Increase heat to med-high. Add chicken to drippings in pan; sauté 6 min or until done. 3. Melt butter in a large saucepan over med heat; sprinkle flour evenly into pan. Cook 2 min, stirring constantly with a whisk. Combine milk and soup, stirring with a whisk; gradually add milk mixture to saucepan, stirring with a whisk. Bring to a boil; cook 2 min or until thick. Remove from heat; let stand 4 min or until sauce cools to 155. Add Italian cheese blend, onion powder, garlic powder, dill, and salt, stirring until cheese melts. Stir in pasta and chicken. 4. Preheat broiler. 5. Spoon mixture into an 8" square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle evenly with reserved bacon and Colby-Jack cheese. Broil 3 min or until cheese melts.