When the weather turns cool, a pot of mac and cheese is about as good as comfort food gets. It's also one of the easiest dishes to give a little personality, and in our house that means a few spoonfuls of Rocky's Bacon Hot Sauce stirred right into the cheese sauce.
Why Bacon Hot Sauce?
Bacon Hot Sauce is our best seller. It starts smoky and savory, then brings a slow cayenne warmth at the end. It's rated mild, so it seasons the whole pot without scaring off the kids, and anyone who wants more heat can drizzle extra on top. Worcestershire, honey, butter, garlic and onion round out the flavor, which is exactly what a creamy cheddar sauce wants.
One thing people always ask: there's no pork in it. Bacon Hot Sauce is pork-free, so the smoky bacon flavor comes from natural flavors, not bacon bits.
This is a stovetop recipe, no oven and no fancy cheese required. Cook the pasta, make a quick butter-and-flour sauce in the same pot, melt in sharp cheddar, and stir in the hot sauce at the end so the flavor stays bright. It takes about 20 minutes and works as a weeknight dinner, a game-day side or a cozy bowl on a rainy Sunday. Here's how to make it.
Smoky Bacon Hot Sauce Mac and Cheese Recipe
Serves 4 · Total time: About 20 minutes
What You’ll Need
- 8 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar (8 oz)
- 2 to 3 tbsp Rocky's Bacon Hot Sauce, plus more for drizzling
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Cook the macaroni in salted water according to the package. Drain and set aside.
- Start the sauce: In the same pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the milk: Slowly whisk in the milk. Simmer, stirring often, until it thickens a little, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Melt in the cheese: Take the pot off the heat. Stir in the cheddar until melted, then stir in 2 tbsp Bacon Hot Sauce. Taste and add salt, pepper or more sauce.
- Serve: Stir the pasta back in and serve with an extra drizzle of Bacon Hot Sauce on top.
Tips
- Shred your own cheddar if you can. It melts smoother than pre-shredded.
- Adding the hot sauce off the heat keeps its smoky flavor front and center.
- Want it baked? Spread it in a dish, top with breadcrumbs and broil for 2 to 3 minutes.
Shop Bacon Hot Sauce
Made this one? You’ll need a bottle of Rocky’s Bacon Hot Sauce. Free shipping on $25+.
