Pit Barrell Cooker: Bacon-Pimiento Macaroni and Cheese

Hands down my all time favorite mac-n-cheese. This stuff will definitely kill you but man what a way to go! Eat at your own risk 😁
-Enjoy!
Ingredients:
5 slices bacon
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups half-and-half
3 cups shredded smoked Cheddar cheese, divided
3 cups shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (16-ounce) box small penne or elbow macaroni, cooked according to package directions
1 (4-ounce) jar diced pimientos, drained
Garnish: sliced green onion
Instructions
1.Preheat broiler. Spray 6 (1-cup)ramekins with nonstick cooking spray.
2.In a large Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove from pan, and let drain on paper towels. Reserve 1/4 cup drippings in pan; crumble bacon.
3.To drippings in pan, add butter, and melt over medium-high heat. Whisk in flour until smooth, and cook, whisking constantly, for 1 minute. Whisk in half-and-half, and cook, whisking frequently, until mixture is thickened and smooth. Add 2 cups each Cheddar and Parmesan and next 3 ingredients, stirring until melted and smooth. Stir in pasta, pimientos, and bacon. Spoon pasta mixture into prepared ramekins, and top with remaining 1 cup each Cheddar and Parmesan.
4.Broil for 4 minutes or until cheese is melted and lightly browned. Garnish with green onion, if desired.
Notes
Get out your box grater, and shred blocks of cheese for this recipe. Your dish will have a creamier texture than if you use packaged shredded cheese, and you’ll also save money since blocks of cheese are cheaper than preshredded.

[@TheRealEricO]

Ingredients: 5 slices bacon 1/4 cup butter 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 4 cups half-and-half 3 cups shredded smoked Cheddar cheese, divided 3 cups shredded Parmesan cheese, divided 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper 1 (16-ounce) box small penne or elbow macaroni, cooked according to package directions 1 (4-ounce) jar diced pimientos, drained Garnish: sliced green onion Instructions 1.Preheat broiler. Spray 6 (1-cup)ramekins with nonstick cooking spray. 2.In a large Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove from pan, and let drain on paper towels. Reserve 1/4 cup drippings in pan; crumble bacon. 3.To drippings in pan, add butter, and melt over medium-high heat. Whisk in flour until smooth, and cook, whisking constantly, for 1 minute. Whisk in half-and-half, and cook, whisking frequently, until mixture is thickened and smooth. Add 2 cups each Cheddar and Parmesan and next 3 ingredients, stirring until melted and smooth. Stir in pasta, pimientos, and bacon. Spoon pasta mixture into prepared ramekins, and top with remaining 1 cup each Cheddar and Parmesan. 4.Broil for 4 minutes or until cheese is melted and lightly browned. Garnish with green onion, if desired. Notes Get out your box grater, and shred blocks of cheese for this recipe. Your dish will have a creamier texture than if you use packaged shredded cheese, and you’ll also save money since blocks of cheese are cheaper than preshredded.

[@luannnorris9287]

How about a Hop-a-Long Hominy Casserole by Cowboy Kent Rollins on KZbin? It has 2 (15 oz) cans yellow hominy 1 (4oz) can green chilies 4 slices thick cut bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 1 & 1/2 c sour cream Salt and black pepper 1 c shredded cheddar cheese How to make 1.Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly grease an 8x11 inch casserole dish. 2.In a large bowl, combine hominy and green chilies. Set aside. 3.place bacon in medium cast iron skillet and cook over medium heat. When it begins to brown, add onion and cook until the bacon is 3/4's done, about 5 minutes.remove skillet from heat, discard about 1/2 the bacon grease. 4.Pour the contents of the skillet into the hominy mixture and stir together. Stir in sour cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 5.Scrape mixture into casserole dish. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until mixture is bubbly and the hominy softens slightly. 6.About 5 minutes before casserole is finished cooking Sprinkle on the cheese and continue to bake until cheese melts. Serve hot. Its really good!!

[@stillwater62]

Eric is a smart and respectful man. He keeps his wife in first place and NEVER second to anyone, for any reason. Something a lot of young men should take note of.

[@FB-111A]

Smart man, “besides what my wife makes”. This channel is so cool.

[@sadwhatsittoyou1009]

LOVE these videos Mr. & Mrs. O!! Thank you for inviting us into your after work lives and allowing us to be a part of your evenings (would love to have a beer with you two!) and, eeeeeekkk, when did Trinity get so dang big?! Happens to fast.....wife and I are getting ready to throw an 18th birthday for our baby in a couple weeks (older two are 27 and 24); oy vey, must have blinked somewhere along the way.....anyway; THANK YOU for the awesome content; Cheers!!!

[@josephguzek8098]

Love the after hour videos! They are educational and worth every minute of watching!

[@pooroldroy1756]

When my wife and myself were trying to survive on Army pay in 1966 through 1968, we ate Kraft Boxed Macaroni and Cheese sometimes 7 evenings a week as that is all we could afford even at the base commissary. We had a newborn and milk and formula and diapers were the priority. I still like boxed macaroni and cheese, sure brings back memories. Lunch was usually peanut butter sandwiches made on bread so thin you could almost read a newspaper through it. Remember Howard Johnson's Restaurant had "All You Can Eat Clam Night" and the place was full of military families and they sure ate all they could. Would not trade the education I got while serving in the military and the police department in Dallas for any college degree.

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Glad to finally see the famous mac and cheese i've heard so much about! Nice to see you back doing this channel, guys!

[@TheRealEricO]

You gotta do this Helga. It will give you the pasta shakes for sure haha

[@vdaiuto]

I recently saw a cooking show with the Mac n cheese..supposedly it's big in Texas and served on a sandwich

[@robmosher362]

Great video. I especially like that you installed a full kitchen in your garage for family meals which provides a break away from work. The separation of work and family during the day is like a breath of fresh air. More please.

[@michaeljordan7733]

"We're not professional cooks, we're professional eaters. We like to eat" and I'm the absolute same 😂😂😂

[@Jay-fn2fo]

I love this format! Very cool to see Mrs. O in her element asking you for help for a change! You guys work super well together.

[@ourkid2000]

Holy, haven't seen Trinity in ages now. She's so grown up! Man, time flies.

[@wallingj68]

I know you guys are just living your lives, but seeing your interactions and such is so heartwarming in this day and age. It's sad that this isn't the norm any more, but...

[@pampartin2267]

Catchy “If we can cook it you can cook it”. Love your videos

[@jr5324]

Woah, didn't know this channel exsisted. I've been missing out.That mac and cheese looks so goood!

[@scott6809]

My wife said to me that this is the only YT channel she likes. Keep up the good work Mr and Mrs O

[@jjaeger89]

Please don’t stop making videos, whether it’s mechanic, cooking, random life, your channel is the one I look forward to at lunch everyday! Keep it up sir

[@toshayonguard4253]

Good Food Shared with All is the American Way 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@xpertNetwork]

Love Mrs O, El Dontay. Pasta in the water before boiling and rinsing the pasta. Eric, you're a lucky man. ☺️

[@onenuttybuddy]

I do like watching you guys do things together. I understand from your constant going on and on and ON, about Mrs.O's cooking, that she is a great cook. So Eric, what are some of your favorite dishes that the misses cooks. Keep in mind not all of us consume Bambo or Bambi. I do enjoy some fresh trout, even a Northern Pike fillet, or some Southern Fired Crappie (Crahhpie). It's all good. Guys, I like my mom's mac & cheese. It's super simple and easy for guys, a young wife learning to cook, college kids living together. Boil the macaroni, cook until al dente. Rinse the macaroni, let it drain well. Now, make a layer of pasta, a layer of sharp cheddar, layer of pasta, an end with a layer of cheddar. Pre-heat oven to 375°. The secret to mom's mac & cheese.....before placing in the oven, poke a spatula down one side of the casserole dish, lightly pull back the layers of goodness, pour the milk in(I use 2% milk) until you begin to see it pool on the bottom of the dish, take the spatula out and let the layers fall back in place. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil. Now bake at 375° for 45 minutes. At the end of that time pull the foil off the top of the dish and bake another 15 minutes for a nice crisp crust. If you don't want the crispy top, put it on the table and Its time to eat kids. The milk creates steam inside the dish and melts all of layers of cheese extremely well. Like I said, very easy to make. Sometimes I sprinkle a little smoked paprika across the top of the cheese to add a little color, and flavor. Enjoy!

[@dickham]

Brought back memories of Meet the Millers from the 50's Channel 4 in Buffalo.

[@jerryfitzpatrick3667]

Love these type of videos. Best Mac & Cheese is baked in the oven with a crust on top and the sides of the casserole dish but still creamy. AKA heart attack on a plate.

[@360fanboy360]

keep uploading please gives me balance between auto repair and food content

[@steverasmussen1905]

The cooking vids are awesome. There are enough "professionals" online. I prefer seeing you guys as real people in the kitchen/at the grill.

[@Lindenbum]

The South Main Cooking Channel👍

[@jamesfarnham1976]

I remember one of the great benefits of having a dog in the house when my kids were little was our kitchen floor was never crunchy. LOL I'm enjoying the new videos, thanks for all you do! Jim.

[@MrYomamaboy]

“I come home, I eat, I sleep.” Could not relate more, from a fellow tech. Loving the after hours!

[@auk2500]

I’m with Mrs. O on this one, Eric. Baked Mac N’ Cheese for the win. You should be able to cut out a portion and pick it up with a spoon/spatula. It’s especially good with some sharp hoop cheddar.

[@0oJoe]

I always like to do a sprinkle of breadcrumbs across the top to give I a yummy crunchy crust.

[@dirtjunkie21]

I love watching your after hours with Mrs O. Yall are so much fun.

[@Tom-uf2um]

Faithful watcher of SMA. Just started watching after hours, loving it. 😊

[@dontblameme6328]

My cholesterol count went up 37.4 point just watching. So I'll be making it this weekend. Thanks for sharing!

[@timm7885]

Man, I need a beer, a bowl of that and then to be in a macaroni coma. Also, be careful smacking glass pimento jars against pan edges...as glass can chip off into the beautiful sea of cheese. Enjoyed cooking with the fam! More pit barrel episodes please!

[@rickshipley7872]

Uncured bacon!! The absolute best!! Way to go Mrs O!

[@TarZan49]

Love this style of video. I don't understand why people don't cut up the bacon before they cook it. Makes it so much easier to cook.

[@Valeriedavis509]

Love smoking videos and all cooking. Real cooking with real families like we do. So many cooking videos are not realistic after work or families with children. Thanks you for all you do and sharing your family with all of us. May God bless you and Mrs O.

[@larryandjeanlynch5507]

Your dish of Bacon-Macaroni and Cheese looks delicious, but you cannot make this a favorite meal unless you are a person who does not gain weight then you can enjoy it! God Bless you all as you have fun together with your family and friends each day! Such a good-looking family!

[@BlainsTube]

That "frosting" looked delicious. A little crunch on top... OH YES!

[@jeffberg8015]

I'm a crust on the top mac and cheese kind of guy. I even enjoy the crunchy macaroni. My favorite recipe is 1lb macaroni somewhat undercooked, about 3 cups half and half (or heavy cream if you want to live large), salt, pepper, and mustard powder to taste, 1/2 cup butter, 4 cups of grated cheeses of your choice (mine is usually cheddar and American for creaminess). Cook the mac, and while it's draining add the half and half and butter to the pot you cooked the mac in. Add salt, pepper, and mustard powder to the sauce while it's heating. Stir often. When hot add 3/4ths of the grated cheese and stir until melted. I don't use roux or flour in this recipe since it can sometimes make the cheese sauce grainy, and if you used enough cheese it will thicken without flour. When the cheese sauce is creamy stir in the macaroni. If it is too thick I add milk or water until I get the right consistency. You want it a little soupy so that it will not turn into a brick and will have some creaminess after baking. Top with the rest of the cheese and bake at 350 until it's bubbly and lightly browned on top. Yum.

[@hasletjoe5984]

The only thing I do well is eat! Love these, binge watching the cooking shows.

[@johndoe-dw1iz]

A great husband a great father a great mechanic and a great mentor for us you tube rats

[@paulschwarz3659]

I enjoy these videos, please keep them coming! You are also winning me over on the pit barrel. Looked delicious!

[@TheOriginalDaveJ]

Macaroni cheese with chilli flakes mixed through covered in fresh sliced tomatoes with a nice brown crispy cheesy topping and a side of chips (fries). Thank you so much for these off the cuff videos, they really are an insight to your family life. That's a lot of cheese, I'd probably double up on the macaroni and cook till soft, that al dante sh*t just swells in the stomach until the lining bursts🤣

[@GarthGoldberg]

Eric, you inspired me and I did ribs on the Weber grill yesterday, finishing them in the slow cooker for tenderness.

[@conrailfan6277]

Eric, you and Mrs.O keep it up, these are great!! My Wife and I drive a Big Truck all week and when we get home from the road all we want is a home cooked meal!! I would love to try this some weekend, I'm getting good with cobblers and pies and My favorite Beans, cornbread and fried taters!! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@hoytjones9126]

Really enjoy watching you and Mrs. O goofing together. Makes me miss my late wife a little less. God bless you and your awesome family PS- pimentos are just red bell peppers lol

[@MrHondaguy1]

Love these after hours videos much as the car repair videos. Cooking is one hobby my wife and I share and she loves the videos. So We’ll definitely keep watching them as long as you make them!!

[@Coolness59]

Holy Moly!! You’re fortunate that Noyes Memorial is close!! 😁

[@emellina1]

Mac N Cheese - Velveeta all the way!!! Yes, keep these videos coming!!!

[@vincemck2002]

Loving this Eric.......your humour with Vanessa is very entertaining....

[@kellyingels6157]

Hey Eric we love everything you do on your videos especially when you include The great Mrs. O

[@erichzander2363]

I’m glad you’ve brought new life to this channel. This was your outdoor channel right? The cooking is good, you could also do some gardening videos, or just some family vlog stuff. I think anyone who is subscribed to this channel would like anything you choose to upload here.

[@JLamond219]

I like the stuff in the box.. nice and easy to make when the wife is on strike from cooking on Friday night!!

[@CBphotographer]

That was alot of cheese. My wife says the more cheese the better. Looks good. I do like these kind of videos as well.

[@hansgrubber5753]

Yes, keep making cooking videos like this. I really enjoy you and Mrs O cooking together. Shows a different side of your mechanic working family. 👍

[@Randomgearhead]

One of the best things about being a mechanic is talking to customers and talking about good food and them bringing home made goods! Just ate a jar full of the best pickles ever

[@nemo2k5]

Please keep these types of videos. I personally enjoy them.

[@jessieharris1676]

Always interesting, fixing cars and eating is my life also, great way to thrive, good job,good food,good people.

[@NaughtyNrs78]

I absolutely love your channel!!! Real people cooking real food. Keep up the good work!!!!

[@billscott2472]

I have faith in Mrs O. She's the cook

[@dieselmunkey]

I love these two, and it's hilarious how he's so animated and she just kind of acts bored and entertains him...

[@KarateSensei71]

I will watch anything with Mrs. O in it, carry on!

[@daver1942]

We are professional eaters as well. We like big favors such as this recipe. Good job Mr. and Mrs.O.

[@davidmangani3899]

Love the at home after the shop videos, great job! Keep it up, thanks to you and your family for sharing a little bit more of your life with us! 👍

[@Gadgetstoolbox]

Keep up whatever you would like to share with the outside world. I'll watch, learn, and try out.

[@db8823]

Yup, that's a lot of cheese. Always enjoy videos of home life.

[@garylollman5339]

Hey you can call this new channel cooking with your favorite mechanic or technician. Looks great you had my heart racing just watching put it together.

[@DIYDaveOK]

We LOVE these videos!!! Keep em coming!

[@gregslair4278]

You guys crack me up. You two remind me so much of my son and his wife (about the same ages). Love your stuff and hate hearing you underrate yourself. Keep up this new stuff. Love the car stuff, but the way you two interact is priceless and damn do you two make me fricken hungry!!!!!

[@jeremy2283]

Down south here we have Bojangles. Their specialty is chicken, biscuits, breakfast etc. They have a cajun chicken biscuit that I have pimento cheese put on. It is amazing.

[@sonofmontezuma3732]

When the dogs are Hovering around you know it’s going to be delicious

[@glendurant911]

Wow, that's some casserole for sure. does look tasty. as for the after-hour videos I do appreciate them and it is nice to see the family in a different element sometimes.

[@nemo2k5]

Please keep doing these types of videos. I personally enjoy them.

[@Shaz351]

Nice to you guys at home and doing your thing.. Shooting , cooking and live life... Thanks Shannon from New Zealand

[@shawnmontgomery1088]

Walmart thick and creamy mac and cheese is the quick easy go to fer mac and cheese......this videos are great......who doesn't like eating.....😂🤣😂🤣😂.....keep them coming

[@barrythirtle4296]

Nothing better than good home cooking

[@phillipmagro7102]

Yeah, Eric keep it coming at your own pace

[@wingnut4226]

Great new channel Eric and Mrs "O" like it very much. It makes us acros the pond drool. Please keep up the good work.

[@MIUWCHRIS]

Yes, please post more like this! Keep up the great work Eric O!!

[@foodskewed9197]

As an avid bbqer, I’m loving these videos!

[@killaclown1927]

Eric and family, I personally love these videos. I was an automotive tech for too long, but no longer work in the field. I've watched and learned an absurd amount from watching your videos. Recently I have been getting into cooking. Now I get to enjoy even more of your content. Keep up the great videos!! Cheers, JS.

[@foranken]

Hey there Mr and Mrs O. Thanks for spending the time to give us more content about you two and Trinity. It's simply entertaining and wholesome (innuendos included) It's just good to see people working together as a nuclear family, and appreciating their time together and what they have worked for.

[@vwwrenchie314]

Macaroni madness..you can see Eric salivating....🤪👍🇨🇦..bacon grease

[@TheRealEricO]

So good

[@jimmymccandless3938]

Don't see nothing wrong with the content...love it.

[@raymondweaver3752]

Enjoy these kinds of videos. Learn something in every one. My kind of cooking and living.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Cooking with Mr O is always Fun @After Hours With Eric O.

[@bowesman1000]

i lol'd when wolf dog popped in there!

[@richardmcclurg3896]

I'm like Mrs. O love my Momma's old fashioned mac n cheese.

[@markmalikowski4971]

Love the after hours videos. Love the crusty corner pieces of homemade macaroni and cheese.

[@Doug....]

Mrs O is certainly a wonderful cook/chef. 🥰

[@shifty4277]

Creamy homemade Mac n cheese with sweet corn mixed into it is probably my favorite

[@kellyscottlindner9908]

Love the new channnel. I have watched many many videos on your South Main Auto channel. Good to see people enjoying themselves outside of work too.

[@hopson77]

Big fan of this content. Keep it coming!

[@cooldude2204]

I love these type of videos. I imagine most people relate to you. We're real, hard workin' folks who love to eat good food. Thanks for what you do on this channel and your main! True American, dude.

[@shaneanderson1036]

Do love these “ special “ posts . More more

[@chuckschob107]

I liked the last minute ending lol

[@rolandbates6978]

Green chile macaroni and cheese. Yah baby! From Arizona!

[@normanchristin1923]

This dish reminded me of Cowboy Kent Rollins Hop along Hominy. This is the first time I have seen this channel! Wow, not only do you do awesome work in the shop, but you cook with the wife as well!

[@gregmccutchan.]

I like the cooking videos. You and Mrs. O make a great team in the kitchen.

[@williamgagnonroadboxservice]

Like the after hours cookin!! Hope Mrs O starts her cooking channel soon. This may give her the confidence to try it…

[@Mr2004MCSS]

Wow, that looks amazing. Keep doing these types of videos. I love them because grilling and smoking is one of my hobbies that I do quite often.