Smoked Gouda Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

This post was sponsored by Better Than Bouillon as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

I don’t know about you, but to me, the holidays are all about comfort food! Warm, heavy, sleepy-after-eating dishes that you only make occasionally and love them all the more for it. This Smoked Gouda Bacon Macaroni and Cheese (featuring Better Than Bouillon) is exactly that: warm, comforting, delicious, and the next star of your holiday table.

This year, the holidays look pretty different. and there’s a lot of disappointment in that. But these hearty, comforting family recipes can help the holidays feel a whole lot more traditional and connected.

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Smoked Gouda Bacon Macaroni and Cheese – the Ingredients

This Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese is mostly made up of typical, probably-in-your-pantry ingredients, like macaroni noodles, milk, butter, flour, oregano and thyme. Hopefully Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base is a staple in your fridge, too! (If you’re not sure what that is, see the section below – I’m filling you in!)

You’ll also need bacon; I prefer a thinner cut that can really crisp up nicely for good crumbles. A block of white cheddar and a block or wheel of smoked gouda are the stars of this dish, so buy good quality! Lastly, I used a can of fire roasted tomatoes, but you can use regular canned diced tomatoes, or leave them out altogether if you don’t like tomatoes.

You could also replace your tomatoes with any other veggie: broccoli, peas, etc.

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What is Better Than Bouillon?

Better Than Bouillon is like a super-condensed chicken/vegetable/beef broth. It’s like bouillon cubes but a million times better. I first started using it after my meal delivery service kept sending concentrated/condensed chicken broth to make sauces and it was soooooo quick and easy, because I never had to wait for the broth liquid to boil away and thicken. It means I spend less time in the kitchen, and more time doing the things I want to be, like playing with Camden.

I find the jars in any grocery store, and I always keep one or two in the fridge and an extra in the pantry! One of my favorite recipes – aside from this Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese – is my Lemon Garlic Sheet Pan Fish and Veggies. The Better Than Bouillon base gives my recipes a cooked-low-and-slow flavor in a quick and easy way! My favorites? The Roasted Chicken base, Seasoned Vegetable base, and Roasted Garlic base!

Making the Macaroni

Boiling the macaroni noodles is pretty straight forward, right? It’s probably a skill we’ve all got.

But, I’ve got a trick for you: bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once it’s boiling, stir in 2 teaspoons of Better Than Bouillon Roasted Chicken Base (or Vegetable Base). This gives your macaroni noodles a delicious flavor to cook in.

Add 16 ounces of macaroni noodles and turn the heat down to medium. Cook the noodles, stirring occasionally – they may stick a little more with the chicken base – until al dente, 8-12 minutes. Drain the noodles and set aside.

How to Make Smoked Gouda Cheese Sauce

Use the large side of a box grater to grate 1 1/4 cups each white cheddar and gouda.

While the macaroni noodles are cooking, heat 6 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat in a saucepan. 

When butter is melted, whisk in 1/4 c. flour quickly until smooth. Stir in 1 tsp. Better Than Bouillon Roasted Chicken Base.

Pour in the milk and/or heavy cream and stir well.

Continue to cook over medium high, stirring often, until milk begins to thicken.

When milk thickens, remove saucepan from heat and whisk in 1 cup shredded gouda and 1 cup white cheddar, a handful at a time, until combined and smooth. (Whisk quickly, nonstop and vigorously.)

Optional: Sprinkle in oregano and/or thyme and stir to combine. 

Finishing the Smoked Gouda Bacon Mac and Cheese

Grab your bacon. (I usually already have this cooked, or I toss it in the air fryer while I’m making the cheese sauce.) Crumble the bacon into small crumbles.

Pour the cheese sauce over the top of the macaroni noodles and stir to coat.

Stir in drained fire-roasted tomatoes and most of the crumbled bacon (reserve a handful).

Pour macaroni and cheese into a 9×13 baking dish. Top with remaining cheese (1/4 cup each cheddar and gouda) and reserved crumbled bacon. 

If desired: place in oven under broiler to melt cheese, 1-2 minutes. Watch carefully to prevent burning.

Tips and Tricks

Can I use regular (unsmoked gouda)? Sure, if you can’t find smoked gouda, regular will work. The smoked gouda just adds a delicious smokiness that you don’t want to miss out on if you can help it!

I’m a vegetarian – can I substitute for the Better Than Bouillon Roasted Chicken Base? Absolutely! Better Than Bouillon has a delicious seasoned vegetable base that you could use in place of the chicken base!

Make-Ahead Instructions for Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese

You can make this entire recipe ahead of time (it’s best if it’s just the day before), up to pouring it into 9×13 baking dish. Do not top with cheese or reserved bacon.

On the day that you’re going to serve the recipe, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Stir about 1/3 cup of milk into the baking dish to give it some extra moisture to soak up. Cover with foil and heat in the oven until heated through, about 15-25 minutes. During the last 5 minutes, remove the foil and sprinkle the cheese and bacon over the top so it can melt.