Hangover Mac Recipe
Shell pasta smothered in cheese sauce with scrambled eggs, ham, bacon & sausage.
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Ingredients
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Pasta & eggs
Cheese sauce
Meats & garnish
Method
Pasta & eggs
- 1
Cook the pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 3 cups small shell pasta and cook until just al dente (about 8–10 minutes). Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain pasta and set aside.
- 2
Scramble the eggs
Whisk 4 large eggs with 1 cup whole milk, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper until smooth. In a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, melt 2 tbs unsalted butter. Pour egg mixture in and cook gently, stirring frequently, until soft curds form and eggs are just set but still creamy, about 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat and keep warm.
Cheese sauce
- 3
Make a roux
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tbs unsalted butter. Whisk in 2 tbs all-purpose flour and cook, whisking constantly, 1–2 minutes until mixture bubbles and loses the raw flour smell but does not brown.
- 4
Finish the béchamel
Slowly pour in 2 cups whole milk while whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook, whisking, until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 4–6 minutes.
- 5
Add cheese and seasoning
Reduce heat to low. Remove from heat briefly and whisk in 1.5 cups shredded sharp cheddar and 0.5 cup shredded white cheddar or mozzarella in two additions until smooth. Stir in 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp hot sauce, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. If the sauce is too thick, whisk in up to 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to reach a creamy consistency.
- 6
Combine pasta and sauce
Return drained pasta to the pot or a large skillet over low heat. Pour cheese sauce over pasta and stir gently to coat all shells evenly. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Keep warm.
Meats & assembly
- 7
Cook bacon
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 slices thick-cut bacon and cook until crisp, turning occasionally, about 8–10 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and chop into bite-size pieces. Reserve 1 tbs bacon fat in the skillet (discard the rest or save for another use).
- 8
Cook sausage and ham
If using sausage links, remove casings and crumble (or slice patties). Add 1 tsp vegetable oil to the skillet with reserved bacon fat over medium-high heat. Add 2 breakfast sausages (crumbled or sliced) and cook until browned and cooked through, 4–6 minutes. Add 3 oz diced ham and cook until just warmed and lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Combine cooked sausage, ham and chopped bacon in the skillet and keep warm.
- 9
Assemble the Hangover Mac
Fold the scrambled eggs into the cheesy pasta gently so eggs remain in soft curds distributed through the shells. Spoon the mixed meats over the top and fold lightly to incorporate some into the pasta. Taste and add a drizzle (about 1 tbs) hot sauce if desired. Sprinkle 2 tbs sliced chives over the top as garnish.
- 10
