Bacon, Ranch, and Chicken Mac and Cheese

There is something to be said about gooey, cheesy pasta.

 Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

It is my favorite guilty pleasure.

 Grilled Chicken, Bacon Mac and Cheese

Or, at least, one of them...

 Mushroom Mac and Cheese

I'm not ashamed to admit it- I'm obsessed with that show Switched at Birth on ABC Family. 
 

I also used to be obsessed with Passions. Best soap opera ever. I loved Theresa.

Shrimp, Feta Mac and Cheese

And then of course there's Gilmore Girls, Gossip Girls (although this past season was disappointing) Dawson's Creek, The Vampire Diaries...the CW never fails to disappoint. I'm a TV junkie.

Today I'm sharing a new gooey ooey cheesy pasta with you to guiltily indulge yourself in. There is also bacon involved. Chicken for protein (that you fry in bacon grease..oops), and if you use whole wheat pasta, it's not so bad.

Everything in moderation, right?

Right. 

But I'm not gonna stop watching my shows. <3

Source: Cooking Light
 

8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
1 slice applewood-smoked bacon
8 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups fat-free milk (I used reduced fat)
1/3 cup condensed 45% reduced-sodium 98% fat-free cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded six-cheese Italian blend (I used cheddar)
1/2 teaspoon onion powder (I didn't have any on hand so I chopped up a small shallot)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh dill (omitted)
1/8 teaspoon salt
Cooking spray
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded colby-Jack cheese (I used cheddar) 

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain. 

 

Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving drippings in pan. Finely chop bacon; set aside. Increase heat to medium-high. Add chicken to drippings in pan; sauté 6 minutes or until done.

 

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat; sprinkle flour evenly into pan. Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly with a whisk. Combine milk and soup, stirring with a whisk; gradually add milk mixture to saucepan, stirring with a whisk. Bring to a boil; cook 2 minutes or until thick. Remove from heat; let stand 4 minutes or until sauce cools to 155°. Add Italian cheese blend, onion powder, garlic powder, dill, and salt, stirring until cheese melts. Stir in pasta and chicken.

 

Preheat broiler. Spoon mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle evenly with reserved bacon and colby-Jack cheese. Broil 3 minutes or until cheese melts.