• 2 tablespoons salted butter
  • 3 scallions, chopped
  • 1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon
  • 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese
  • 2 1/2 to 3 cups cooked elbow macaroni
  • 1/4 cup Panko or regular bread crumbs
  • Non-stick butter flavored cooking spray

Alex and I were playing Scattergories, one of our favorite games, when we heard Mike’s playful voice calling from the office. “Honey, what’s for lunch?” he asked. Is it that time already? Enjoying the fun, Alex and I lost track of time. Well, let me see! Hmm. With a few pieces of cooked bacon, cheddar cheese, elbow macaroni in the fridge I replied, “How about Mac and Cheese Cups?” Everyone looked up and answered, “Oh yeah!”

Alex and I started our Mac and Cheese by making the sauce.

First we melted butter in a large saucepan. Once melted we added the green onions and crumbled cooked bacon. We then added two tablespoons of flour and cooked it out for one minute, stirring constantly.

In went the milk, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Once it thickened a bit we added the cheese.

Once the cheese melted, we added it to our cooked elbow macaroni.

We placed seven buttered mini cast iron skillets or ramekins onto a sheet pan and divided the mac and cheese. We topped each cup off with some Panko breadcrumbs, sprayed them with non-stick butter spray and placed them under the broiler, watching carefully until they browned a bit on top.

Yum! What a great, easy and comforting lunch!

Place seven cast iron skillets or ramekins onto a baking sheet. Butter or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large saucepan, melt butter, add scallions and crumbled cooked bacon. cook for one minuter. Add flour adn stir for a minute more to get the flour taste out of your dish.

Add milk and allow to thicken a few minutes. Once thickened add nutmeg, salt adn pepper. Add cheese adn stir just until it melts. Add cheese sauce to your cooked macaroni. Divide your mac and cheese mixture into your ramekins. Sprinkle the top of each cup with a little Panko breadcrumbs. Spray each top with non-stick cooking spray and place under the broiler for a minute being careful not to burn. Using tongs, carefully place ramekins in separate cakes. Enjoy!