Bacon Baked Mac and Cheese

Firstly, heat your oven to the temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit (or 175 degrees Celsius).

Next, boil a substantial amount of salted water in a large container and cook pasta until it reaches the desired level of firmness. Remove from the water using a strainer, and set aside.

Simultaneously, place slices of bacon in a deep skillet with enough room to move around. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is evenly browned on all sides. Remove the cooked bacon from the skillet and use paper towels to drain excess fat, then crumble it into smaller pieces. Set aside.

In the same skillet used for cooking the bacon, add sliced onions and minced garlic. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until the onions are softened and fragrant. Remove from heat and stir in the rendered bacon fat that was left behind, then add the crumbled cooked bacon. Set aside.

Now, prepare the sauce by melting butter in a medium-sized cooking vessel over low heat. Gradually add flour, stirring constantly to avoid lumps, for a period of 2 minutes. Slowly pour in milk and continue stirring until the sauce thickens to your liking. Stir in 2 cups of grated Cheddar cheese until it has fully melted.

Combine cooked pasta, the bacon and onion mixture, and the white sauce in a 2-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of grated Cheddar cheese on top.

Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake until the cheese on top is melted, golden brown, and reaches your desired level of doneness, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Serve hot.