The Ultimate “Chopped” Inspired Baked Macaroni and Cheese Casserole: Creamy, Cheesy Comfort with Bacon & Kale

For fans of culinary challenges, Food Network’s Chopped is an absolute must-watch! It’s one of our family’s favorite shows, constantly inspiring creativity and quick thinking in the kitchen. So, when Sargento® announced their exciting “Chopped at Home” contest, I knew I had to participate. The challenge was to create an original, Chopped-inspired dish using specific basket ingredients, prominently featuring Sargento Shredded Cheese. This was a fantastic opportunity to push my culinary boundaries and transform everyday staples into something extraordinary. The goal was to develop a recipe that was not only innovative but also deeply satisfying and truly delicious. I was eager to see what I could create under the playful pressure of the Chopped format.

Adhering to the official Chopped at Home challenge guidelines, my culinary creation needed to incorporate four distinct ingredients from the mystery basket: Sargento Chef Blends 4 State Cheddar, fresh Kale, classic Oyster Crackers, and savory Bacon. This combination immediately sparked ideas for a dish that could blend rich, creamy textures with crisp, salty elements and a touch of wholesome goodness. The Sargento Chef Blends 4 State Cheddar, known for its complex flavor profile, promised to be the perfect base for a truly exceptional cheese experience. The crispness of bacon, the earthy notes of kale, and the satisfying crunch of oyster crackers each presented unique opportunities to add layers of flavor and texture. It was a diverse list that called for a comforting, yet refined, approach.

Crafting the Ultimate Comfort Food: A Mac & Cheese Casserole with a Twist

When presented with the challenge ingredients, the first thought that popped into my head was a timeless classic: macaroni and cheese. It’s a dish universally loved, especially by my boys, who consider it their ultimate comfort food. Given my reputation as a casserole enthusiast, it felt natural to merge these two passions and create a hearty, creamy baked macaroni and cheese casserole. However, this wasn’t going to be just any ordinary mac and cheese. The Chopped challenge demanded innovation, so I set out to elevate this beloved dish with a few clever twists that enhance both flavor and texture, while making it incredibly easy to prepare.

The “No White Sauce” Secret for Extra Creaminess and Simplicity

One of the most common steps in traditional baked macaroni and cheese is preparing a béchamel (white sauce) to create that signature creamy base. While delicious, it can sometimes be time-consuming. For this recipe, I decided to simplify the process without compromising on creaminess. My secret? A smart blend of Sargento Chef Blends 4 State Cheddar, cottage cheese, an egg, and sour cream. This combination provides a rich, velvety texture that perfectly coats every noodle, eliminating the need for a separate white sauce altogether. The Sargento Chef Blends 4 State Cheddar is a meticulously crafted blend of four distinct cheeses: Sharp Wisconsin Cheddar, Sharp Vermont Cheddar, Sharp New York Cheddar, and Mild California Cheddar. This blend ensures a deep, multifaceted cheese flavor that is both bold and balanced.

The addition of cottage cheese not only contributes to the incredible creaminess but also provides a boost of protein, making this casserole a more substantial meal. The single egg acts as a binder, ensuring the sauce sets beautifully while baking, preventing a watery texture. Sour cream adds a delightful tang and extra richness, enhancing the overall luxurious mouthfeel. Together, these ingredients melt into a luscious, savory sauce that clings to the macaroni, creating an irresistible foundation for our casserole. This innovative approach makes preparation quicker and simpler, allowing you to achieve a gourmet-level mac and cheese without the fuss of a traditional béchamel.

Incorporating “Chopped” Basket Ingredients for Flavor and Texture

The remaining Chopped basket ingredients were ingeniously integrated to add layers of flavor, texture, and nutritional value to the macaroni and cheese. Crispy, salty bacon bits are stirred directly into the macaroni, providing bursts of smoky flavor and a delightful textural contrast. The savory notes of bacon are a classic pairing with rich cheese, and here they truly shine. Fresh kale, quickly steamed to a crisp-tender perfection, is also mixed in. This vibrant green addition introduces a touch of earthiness and a wealth of nutrients, balancing the richness of the cheese and bacon. It’s a wonderful way to sneak in some healthy greens, and even skeptical eaters will find themselves enjoying the subtle, tender texture it brings.

Finally, no casserole is complete without a signature topping. For this recipe, I embraced the challenge ingredient of oyster crackers, transforming them into a golden, crunchy crust. Crushed oyster crackers are tossed with melted unsalted butter and then generously spread over the creamy macaroni mixture before baking. As the casserole bakes, this cracker topping becomes beautifully golden brown and irresistibly crispy, providing a fantastic textural counterpoint to the soft macaroni and creamy cheese sauce. The result is a truly remarkable casserole: simple to prepare, incredibly creamy, delightfully cheesy, and packed with contrasting textures and savory flavors. If you appreciate a well-made mac and cheese, prepare to fall head over heels for this easy, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying baked macaroni and cheese casserole!

Baked Macaroni and Cheese Casserole with Bacon & Kale

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Course: Main

Servings: 8 -10 servings

Author: Jenn

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 1-lb box elbow macaroni pasta
• ▢ 1/2 lb. bacon cooked until crispy and then crushed or chopped
• ▢ 1 cup reduced-fat cottage cheese
• ▢ 1 cup light sour cream
• ▢ 2 7.5-oz bags Sargento® Chef Blends 4 State Cheddar
• ▢ 1 large egg lightly beaten
• ▢ 3/4 tsp. salt
• ▢ 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• ▢ 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• ▢ 2 cups steamed kale cut into small pieces (about 3 cups uncooked, stems removed)
• ▢ 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
• ▢ 2 cups crushed oyster crackers

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Lightly grease a 2.5-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
• Cook the macaroni pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
• While the macaroni cooks, prepare the bacon. Cook until it’s perfectly crispy, either in the oven, microwave, or on the stovetop. Once cooled, drain any excess fat and crush or chop the bacon into small, savory pieces.
• Steam the kale for just a couple of minutes until it’s slightly wilted and crisp-tender. This preserves its vibrant color and nutrients.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese, sour cream, Sargento Chef Blends 4 State Cheddar, lightly beaten egg, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated and creamy.
• Add the cooked macaroni, steamed kale, and crispy bacon to the cheese mixture. Stir gently to ensure everything is evenly combined and coated with the luscious cheese sauce.
• Pour the macaroni mixture into the prepared casserole dish, spreading it evenly and smoothing the top.
• In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the unsalted butter. Add the crushed oyster crackers and stir until they are fully coated. Sprinkle this buttery cracker mixture evenly over the top of the casserole.
• Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and bubbly, and the casserole is heated through and irresistible.
• Carefully remove from the oven, let it cool for a few minutes, then scoop into bowls or onto plates and enjoy this comforting, cheesy masterpiece!

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Sargento: Real Cheese for Real Flavor

At the heart of any truly great mac and cheese is exceptional cheese, and Sargento delivers on that promise. Sargento Shredded Cheese stands out because it’s always cut from blocks of 100% real, natural cheese, ensuring superior flavor and melting quality in every bite. With an impressive range of 30 versatile varieties, unique blends, and distinct cuts, Sargento offers endless possibilities for elevating your everyday meals. Their commitment to quality means you’re getting authentic cheese that performs beautifully in any recipe, from comforting casseroles to elegant appetizers. The Sargento Chef Blends 4 State Cheddar used in this recipe is a prime example of their dedication to crafting delicious, high-quality products that home cooks can rely on for rich, genuine cheese flavor.

This recipe for Baked Macaroni and Cheese Casserole with Bacon and Kale is a direct result of the exciting Chopped at Home Challenge. It’s a testament to how simple, real ingredients can come together to create something truly special. We hope you’re inspired to try this recipe, and perhaps even to participate in the Chopped at Home Challenge yourself! For further culinary inspiration, be sure to explore the vast collection of recipes and ideas available on the Sargento Pinterest page or by visiting Sargento.com. Remember, the Chopped at Home Challenge offers participants the incredible opportunity to create their best recipe using the selected basket ingredients, including Sargento Shredded Cheese, for a chance to win a grand prize of $10,000! Unleash your inner chef and get cooking!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sargento. All opinions and the content within this post are entirely my own.