Three bowls of macaroni and cheese, with a salad and Redpath Brown & Maple Sugars

Mac ‘N’ Cheese with Caramelized Onion

Surely this is the great Canadian comfort food? Beloved by kids and grown-ups alike, good ol’ mac ‘n’ cheese tastes like home, no matter where you are! We sweetened ours up with a touch of golden yellow sugar and caramelized onions for an even homier treat. For lunch or dinner, main or side, it’s like serving your family a bowl full of smiles!

YIELDS

2 main course servings, or 4 starters

PREP TIME

20 minutes

COOK TIME

25 minutes

INGREDIENTS

  • ½ lb (227 g) maple bacon, chopped
  • 3 tbsp butter, divided
  • 2 yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • ¾ tsp (4 g) salt
  • 3 tbsp (42 g) Redpath® Golden Yellow Sugar, divided
  • 2 tbsp (16 g) flour
  • 2 cups (500 ml) whole milk
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) Dijon mustard
  • 2 cups (180 g) shredded aged white cheddar cheese
  • 6 oz (170 g) dry macaroni, cooked according to package directions
Redpath Golden Yellow Sugar
Golden Yellow Sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

Cook bacon in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat until just crispy; about 7-8 minutes. Remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate. Reserve 1 tbsp of bacon fat aside then wipe out pot and return to heat. Reduce heat to medium-low.  

Stirring chopped bacon in a pot with a wooden spoon

Add 1 tbsp (14 g) of butter. And onions to pot and cook, stirring occasionally until onions are caramelized; about 25 to 30 minutes.

Stir in 2 tbsp of Redpath® Golden Yellow Sugar and cook until sugar has dissolved; about 2-3 minutes. Scrape onions into a bowl and set aside.

Stirring chopped bacon, onions, and Redpath® Brown & Maple Sugars in a pot with a wooden spoon

Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C) and grease a 7 x 11 inch casserole dish.

Return pot to medium high heat and stir in butter until melted Whisk in flour and cook, stirring often, for 1-2 minutes to create a roux.

Whisk milk and mustard into pot, cook stirring until mixture has thickened; about 4-5 minutes. Stir in cheese, cook until melted; about 3-4 minutes. Stir in cooked pasta, bacon, and caramelized onion until combined.  

Whisking milk and shredded cheese in a pot

Transfer macaroni and cheese to prepared dish. Sprinkle with remaining Redpath® Golden Yellow Sugar. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until top is bubbling and golden.  

Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.

Three bowls of macaroni and cheese, with napkins and forks

CHEF'S TIPS

* This recipe can easily be doubled to serve 4 people as a main dish

* A roux is a mixture of flour and butter cooked together into a paste that is used to thicken sauces