Indulgent Bacon and Boursin Macaroni and Cheese: A Creamy, Savory Comfort Food Dream
Prepare yourself for a culinary revelation where crispy bacon meets the unparalleled creaminess of Boursin cheese, all lovingly united in a classic macaroni and cheese. This isn’t just any mac and cheese; it’s the rich, savory, and incredibly flavorful dish that your comfort food dreams are made of. A true must-try recipe that promises to elevate your homemade meals. Whether you’re wrapping up a challenging week or simply craving something extraordinary, this Bacon and Boursin Macaroni and Cheese is an absolute showstopper.
Full disclosure: I simply adore Boursin cheese, and this post reflects that genuine enthusiasm, not a sponsored endorsement.
Life can throw a lot at you. Sometimes, it’s the chaos of a sick child at home, compounded by maddening website hosting issues, endless upgrades, or the general “blogger blogger crap crap” that occasionally plagues our digital lives. In moments like these, there’s only one true antidote: COMFORT FOOD. And what better form for comfort food to take than a bubbling, cheesy, glorious casserole of macaroni and cheese? This particular rendition, infused with the luxurious essence of Boursin and the irresistible crunch of bacon, somehow makes everything feel a little bit better, don’t you agree?
There’s an undeniable magic in a bowl (or baking dish!) of macaroni and cheese. It’s more than just pasta and cheese; it’s a warm hug, a culinary embrace that transcends age and background. The sheer satisfaction it brings is practically a universal truth, a gospel we can all agree upon without further debate. We’ve all sung its praises, and we all know its comforting power. So, instead of dwelling on the well-established virtues of mac and cheese, let’s dive into what makes this particular version exceptionally special: Boursin cheese.
The Secret Ingredient: Discovering Boursin Gournay Cheese with Garlic and Fine Herbs
If you’re wondering what makes this macaroni and cheese stand head and shoulders above the rest, the answer lies in our star ingredient: Boursin. But what exactly is this delightful cheese?
- Boursin is a renowned brand of Gournay cheese. Originating from France, this exquisite soft cheese has captivated palates worldwide with its unique texture and flavor.
- Gournay cheese boasts a creamy, yet slightly crumbly texture. Imagine the best qualities of butter and cream cheese combined – that’s the delightful consistency you get with Boursin. It spreads effortlessly and melts into velvety sauces with ease.
- The legacy of Boursin began in 1957. It was the creation of François Boursin, a visionary cheesemaker from Normandy, France. His innovative spirit led to a cheese that would become a household name globally.
- Boursin is inherently buttery and melts like a dream. This characteristic makes it an ideal choice for crafting rich, smooth sauces and delectable dips. Its meltability ensures a consistently luxurious texture in your dishes.
- In my humble opinion (and shared by countless others), Boursin is truly superior. While other cheeses might attempt to replicate its magic, none quite capture the distinctive flavor and texture profile that Boursin delivers. Its garlic and fine herb variety, in particular, is a game-changer.
- You can typically find Boursin in the specialty cheese section of most well-stocked grocery stores across America. It’s usually nestled among other gourmet cheeses, often near the deli or dairy aisles.
- No Boursin available at your local grocer? No problem! You can try my Mock Boursin recipe to create a similar garlic and herb-infused creamy cheese from scratch. This ensures you never have to miss out on that signature flavor.
If my adoration for Boursin cheese seems a bit extravagant, then you’re paying close attention, and that’s fantastic! My love affair with Boursin goes way back; I can’t even pinpoint when I first encountered its creamy, garlicky goodness. All I know is that Boursin has always held a special place in my heart (and my fridge). Its incredible meltability – seriously, it’s practically half butter already – combined with its perfectly balanced garlic and herb flavor, makes it an indispensable ingredient. It was, quite simply, inevitable that Boursin would eventually find its way into my macaroni and cheese recipe repertoire.
Crafting This Extraordinary Mac and Cheese
You might think that creating a dish this flavorful would be complicated, but you’d be delightfully mistaken. The beauty of this recipe lies in its elegant simplicity. Honestly, compared to my standard creamy macaroni and cheese, all I really did was make a few brilliant substitutions that transformed the entire dish. The core innovation was swapping out half of the traditional cheddar for Boursin cheese, creating a rich, herbaceous, and incredibly smooth Boursin and cheddar cheese sauce. This single change infuses the mac and cheese with an unexpected depth and gourmet appeal that’s truly addictive.
But the innovations didn’t stop there. To further elevate the flavor profile, I introduced a splash of dry white wine into the cheese sauce. The wine adds a subtle acidity and complexity that brightens the rich cheese, creating a more sophisticated taste without overpowering the dish. And, of course, the addition of crisp, savory bacon throughout the dish is a non-negotiable must. These thoughtful additions—Boursin, wine, and bacon—are really the main differentiators, turning a familiar classic into something truly extraordinary.
Beyond these key enhancements, the recipe largely follows the beloved structure of a typical macaroni and cheese. So, on one hand, it’s wonderfully creative in its flavor profile, and on the other, it embraces the tried-and-true methods that ensure a perfect result every time. It’s the best of both worlds, and truly, it’s all good!
OH! But there’s one more secret weapon that I absolutely must highlight: the epic bacon-breadcrumb-parmesan topping. This isn’t just an afterthought; it’s a critical component that adds an essential textural contrast and an extra layer of savory deliciousness. Let me tell you, this crunchy topping is an absolute game-changer. The key to achieving its perfect crunch isn’t just the bacon, but the clever addition of some olive oil (or melted butter, if you prefer) to the breadcrumbs and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. This coating ensures that the topping crisps up beautifully in the oven, creating a golden, crunchy layer that perfectly complements the creamy mac and cheese beneath. Each bite delivers a harmonious blend of creamy, cheesy pasta with a satisfying, savory crunch. You’ll fall in love with it!
Simple Steps to Making Bacon and Boursin Macaroni and Cheese
Despite its gourmet taste, this delicious dinner comes together with surprising ease. The steps are straightforward, making it an accessible recipe for cooks of all skill levels. Here’s a quick overview of the process:
- Prepare the Bacon: Begin by cooking your bacon. You’ll want it cooked through but not overly crisp at this stage, as it will continue to cook in the oven. Once done, drain it, let it cool slightly, and then chop it finely, setting aside half for the topping.
- Cook the Macaroni: While the bacon is cooking, get a large pot of water boiling and cook your macaroni pasta to an al dente perfection according to the package directions. Al dente pasta holds its shape better and prevents the dish from becoming mushy after baking.
- Whip Up the Boursin Cheese Sauce: This is where the magic happens! While the pasta boils, create your luscious Boursin cheese sauce. You’ll start with a classic roux (butter and flour), then slowly whisk in milk until smooth. Once it begins to steam, remove it from the heat and stir in the Boursin and cheddar cheeses, along with salt, Dijon mustard, and the dry white wine. Finally, fold in half of your cooked, chopped bacon.
- Assemble the Crunchy Topping: In a separate small bowl, combine the remaining chopped bacon with plain breadcrumbs, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and a tablespoon of olive oil or melted butter. This mixture forms the irresistible crunchy topping.
- Combine and Bake: Drain the al dente macaroni and gently fold it into your creamy Boursin cheese sauce. Transfer the entire mixture to a 13×9 baking dish, then generously sprinkle the prepared crunchy bacon topping over the top. Bake until bubbly and golden brown.
See? How incredibly easy is that? It truly is as simple as most cherished mac and cheese recipes. The fundamental rhythm is always the same: make a rich béchamel, introduce glorious cheese, stir in the cooked pasta, add a delightful crunchy topping, and then bake to golden perfection. This time-honored sequence guarantees a delicious outcome, and with the addition of Boursin and bacon, it’s elevated to an art form.
More Delicious Recipe Ideas Using Boursin Cheese
Once you fall in love with Boursin, you’ll want to incorporate its incredible flavor into everything! Here are a few more fantastic recipe ideas that highlight the versatility of Boursin cheese:
- Bacon and Boursin Stuffed Tomatoes
- Boursin Chicken with Prosciutto
- Weeknight Ravioli with Spinach, Salmon, and Boursin Cheese Sauce
- Peppercorn-Crusted, Boursin-Stuffed Cheeseburgers
- Tomato, Basil, and Boursin Pizza
- Sausage and Boursin Pinwheels
- VEGAN Copycat Boursin Cashew Cheese
So there you have it, folks! Another fantastic macaroni and cheese recipe, but this one truly stands out from the crowd. By combining the beloved crunch and savory depth of bacon with one of my absolute all-time favorite ingredients – BOURSIN Garlic & Herb cheese – this dish becomes a simply fantastic addition to any meal, whether served as a hearty main course or a luxurious side dish. It’s an unforgettable experience for your taste buds, promising creamy indulgence and irresistible flavor in every single bite. Don’t hesitate to give this one a try; it might just become your new favorite comfort food!
If you’re captivated by the allure of homemade mac and cheese, be sure to explore my foundational Basic Creamy Macaroni and Cheese recipe. It serves as an essential guide for mastering all the secrets to a perfect, velvety mac and cheese every time.
Bacon and Boursin Macaroni and Cheese
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Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon divided
- 8 oz macaroni elbows pasta uncooked
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 5.2 oz pkg Garlic & Herb Boursin Gournay cheese
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- ¼ cup plain breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 Tbsp minced fresh herbs such as Italian parsley, chives, and basil, optional for garnish
- 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil or melted butter
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil for the pasta.
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While the water heats, cook the bacon in a large skillet until it’s rendered its fat and is cooked through, but not yet overly crispy (it will crisp up more in the oven). Drain the bacon on paper towels, reserving a tablespoon of bacon fat if desired for extra flavor in the roux. Once cooled slightly, finely chop the bacon. Set half aside for the cheese sauce and the other half for the topping.
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Add the macaroni pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package directions until it is al dente. Drain well and set aside.
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While the pasta is cooking, prepare the Boursin cheese sauce. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter (or reserved bacon fat). Whisk in the all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to create a smooth roux.
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Gradually and slowly whisk in the milk until the sauce is completely smooth and free of lumps. Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce just begins to thicken and steam. Be careful not to let it boil vigorously.
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Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the shredded cheddar cheese, the entire package of Garlic & Herb Boursin cheese, kosher salt, and Dijon mustard. Stir vigorously until all the cheeses are melted and the sauce is perfectly smooth and creamy. Stir in the dry white wine (if using) and half of the chopped bacon.
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Once the macaroni is cooked and drained, add it directly to the Boursin cheese sauce in the saucepan. Stir gently to ensure all the pasta is thoroughly coated with the delicious cheese sauce. Pour the entire mixture into a 13×9 inch baking dish, spreading it evenly.
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In a small bowl, combine the remaining chopped bacon with the plain breadcrumbs, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil or melted butter. Mix well to evenly coat the breadcrumbs. Sprinkle this crunchy topping generously over the macaroni and cheese in the baking dish.
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Bake the casserole in the preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until the mac and cheese is very bubbly around the edges and the topping is golden brown and deliciously crisp. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving. This recipe yields 6 generous servings as a main dish or 8 smaller portions as a delightful side dish. Garnish with fresh minced herbs if desired.