The Midwest’s Best Bake is also the best mac-and-cheese you’ve ever tasted! It’s classic tender macaroni in a tangy cheese sauce with a sprinkling of sweet corn to help uplift the rich flavors. Of course, bites of succulent pancetta only help to make the Midwest’s Best Bake even more delectable, as do the crunchy and sharp breadcrumbs on top! Show them what the Midwest can do with this dish!
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried elbow macaroni
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, melted, divided
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups white cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 cups frozen roasted whole kernel corn or regular corn, thawed
- 4 ounces pancetta, crisp-cooked and chopped
- 1/4 cup green onions, sliced, plus more, to taste, for serving
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Lightly grease a 2-quart casserole dish.
Step 3 –Cook the macaroni to al dente, according to the package directions.
Step 4 –Drain the pasta.
Step 5 –In a 12-inch skillet, melt 1/4 cup of the butter over medium heat.
Step 6 –Stir the flour, the dry mustard, and the pepper into the butter and cook until golden, about 2 minutes.
Step 7 –Gradually stir the milk and the Worcestershire sauce into the flour mixture and cook, while stirring, until it thickens and is bubbly.
Step 8 –Reduce the heat to low.
Step 9 –Gradually add the cheddar cheese to the flour mixture and stir until it melts.
Step 10 –Transfer the skillet from the heat.
Step 11 –Stir the macaroni, the corn, the pancetta, and 1/4 cup of the green onions into the cheese mixture.
Step 12 –Transfer the macaroni mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
Step 13 –In a small bowl, combine the panko, the parmesan, the remaining melted butter, and the parsley.
Step 14 –Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the macaroni mixture.
Step 15 –Bake the macaroni mixture until it is heated through, about 25-30 minutes.
Step 16 –Sprinkle the macaroni bake with the extra green onions and serve.
