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This recipe for Skillet Macaroni and Cheese is super cheesy, topped with bread crumbs, bacon and more cheese and baked until bubbly. There’s something deeply satisfying about a bubbling skillet of macaroni and cheese fresh from the oven—crisp on top, gooey inside, and packed with rich, cheesy flavor. Whether it’s your childhood favorite or a new weeknight staple, this dish is all about pure comfort.
Forget the powdered cheese packets—this skillet mac and cheese is just as easy and way more satisfying. It’s even easy enough for a kid to make. RecipeBoy Brooks made this recipe for the first time when he was only 11 years old. Check out the photos under the recipe card down below!
Real cheese, real creaminess, and real flavor, all in one pan. Just like tacos and lasagna, this Skillet Macaroni and Cheese is the kind of comfort food you love to eat! It’s one of those meals that everyone enjoys. This recipe originally came from The Picky Palate Cookbook by Jenny Flake.
Ingredients Needed:
- Pasta: We used elbow macaroni for this recipe.
- Butter: Since cheese has a lot of salt in it, we like to use unsalted butter for macaroni and cheese.
- Flour: All purpose flour is used to help thicken the cheese sauce.
- Seasonings: You’ll need kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, as well as smoked paprika.
- Milk: Any kind of milk can be used for the sauce.
- Cheeses: We use cheddar cheese and grated Parmesan cheese for this recipe.
- Bread Crumbs: Look for panko bread crumbs.
- Bacon: Any kind of sliced bacon is fine. Directions are below on how to cook bacon in the oven.
How to make Skillet Macaroni and Cheese
Cook the pasta first. Then make the cheese sauce. Combine the pasta and the cheese sauce in an oven-safe skillet. The final step is adding a buttery bacon and bread crumb mixture to the top and then baking it in the oven.
Recipe Tips:
- Change up the pasta. Use any small pasta— shells, cavatappi, orecchiette or fusilli.
- Change up the cheese! Try using a combination of shredded Gruyere, Mozzarella, Fontina, Monterey Jack or Gouda.
- You can use half and half or cream in place of milk if you want the cheese sauce to be extra rich.
How to cook bacon in the oven:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Lay the bacon on the baking sheet. Don’t overlap the bacon or it will all stick together! Bake the bacon for 15 to 20 minutes, until crisp. The time varies depending on how thick your bacon is. Move the bacon slices to paper towels to drain.
This skillet mac and cheese proves you don’t need a sink full of dishes to get that made-from-scratch flavor. Everything comes together in one pan—pasta, sauce, and all—making it a go-to for busy nights when comfort is non-negotiable.
What You’ll Love About This Recipe:
- It’s cheesy perfection! You’ll enjoy my recipe for Cacio e Pepe Mac and Cheese too!
- If you’re a macaroni and cheese lover, you’re going to love this version of mac and cheese too!
- The bacon and bread crumbs on top put it into an over-the-top delicious category! Try this Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon recipe too.
Skillet Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- ½ pound elbow macaroni pasta
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, divided
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1½ cups milk
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- ½ pound sliced bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled (about 1 cup)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉. Spray a 9-inch cast-iron skillet with nonstick spray.
- Cook the pasta according to package directions, drain, then rinse under cool water to stop the cooking.
- Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour, salt, paprika, and pepper and whisk to combine. Slowly add the milk, whisking until smooth and thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the cheddar cheese and stir until smooth.
- Transfer the cooked pasta to the skillet. Pour in the cheese sauce, stirring to combine.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the remaining 5 tablespoons butter in the microwave. Add the bread crumbs, bacon and Parmesan and stir to combine. Sprinkle over the mac and cheese, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
Notes
- Note: As a main course, this should serve four.
- Calories were calculated for a side serving.
Nutrition
This recipe comes from RecipeBoy.com
I usually prefer my macaroni and cheese pretty bare. But I am all for trying new versions!
I usually just put breadcrumbs on top – never thought of bacon before! The crunch would be a good contrast.
Ritz crackers! Yum 🙂
I am a traditionalist – no add ins in my mac n cheese!
@Jill…Yeah, I like traditional baked macaroni and cheese, but when I saw the bacon/crumb topping, I’ll certainly try this!! There are enough days in the year to serve different recipes for mac and cheese quite a few times. YAY!! :~)
I recently made a Pumpkin Mac & Cheese & it was so yummy!
I also pinned this giveaway on pinterest!
I love mac n’ cheese. As someone who tries to make everything healthy….I’m a fan of hiding veggies in there. I can puree carrots and add it to the cheese sauce!
Also…I had a mac n cheese the other day that had curried veggies in it. It was to die for GOOD!!!
I like mac and cheese with blue cheese crumbles and bacon.
@Casey…When I see blue cheese AND bacon mentioned, I must ask…do you top the “traditional” baked mac and cheese with the blue cheese crumbles and diced, fried bacon before you put the whole dish in the oven to bake? Could you please give me an idea for the amount of blue cheese crumbles you use? I’ll wing it with the bacon…no such thing as ‘too much’ bacon!! LOL!! THANK YOU!
Recipe Boy!! Thank you for highlighting my mac and cheese and cookbook!! You made it perfectly! Great job and have a great day!!
I made this for my parents and they looved it. This is a great recipe..soo good. Thanks for sharing (:
You’re SO right about bacon…possibly my favorite food!! It’s delicious on anything…and this recipe looks so good…gotta try this…thanks for sharing!! Love your recipes and your sweet Mom’s recipes, too… :~)