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Pesto Bacon Mac and Peas
Pesto Bacon Mac and Peas

Pesto Bacon Mac and Peas

with Cavolo Nero and Herby Crumb

Recipe Development Team
Recipe Development TeamPublished on September 24, 2025

Mac and cheese is a crowd-pleasing American dish with a deliciously cheesy sauce. Here, we're going green by swirling through green pesto and studding with peas, then topping with a herby crumb for texture and even more flavour.

Allergens:
Milk
Wheat
Cereals containing gluten
Egg
Nuts
Cashew nuts

The quantities provided above are averages only.

Produced in a facility that processes eggs, milk, fish, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat.

Total35 minutes
Active 25 minutes
DifficultyMedium

Ingredients

serving amount

2 unit(s)

Garlic Clove

50 grams

Mature Cheddar Cheese

(Contains: Milk)

25 grams

Breadcrumbs

(Contains: Wheat, Cereals containing gluten)

1 sachet(s)

Mixed Herbs

180 grams

Macaroni

(Contains: Wheat, Cereals containing gluten May contain traces of: Soya)

100 grams

Chopped Cavolo Nero

150 grams

Creme Fraiche

(Contains: Milk)

15 grams

Vegetable Stock Paste

40 grams

Grated Hard Italian Style Cheese

(Contains: Milk, Egg)

30 grams

Basil Pesto

(Contains: Milk, Nuts, Cashew nuts May contain traces of: Peanut)

120 grams

Peas

90 grams

British Smoked Bacon Lardons

Not included in your delivery

2 tbsp

Olive Oil for the Crumb

20 grams

Butter

1.5 tbsp

Plain Flour

200 milliliter(s)

Water for the Sauce

Nutritional information

Energy (kJ)4988 kJ
Energy (kcal)1192 kcal
Fat68.1 g
of which saturates29.5 g
Carbohydrate95.1 g
of which sugars10.4 g
Dietary Fibre10 g
Protein36.4 g
Salt4.3 g
Always refer to the product label for the most accurate ingredient and allergen information.

Utensils

Box Grater
Grater
Small Bowl
Large Saucepan
Colander
Oven dish

Instructions

1

Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil with 0.5 tsp salt for the macaroni. 

Peel and grate the garlic (or use a garlic press). Grate the cheese.

In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, mixed herbs and the olive oil for the crumb (see pantry for amount). Set the crumb aside.

2

When your pan of water is boiling, stir in the macaroni and bring back to the boil. Cook until tender, 12 mins.

When the pasta has 5 mins left, add the cavolo nero to the same pan and boil for the remaining time. TIP: Discard any tough stalks from the cavolo nero.

Once cooked, drain in a colander and pop back in the pan. Drizzle with oil and stir through to stop the pasta sticking together.

3

Meanwhile, heat a drizzle of oil in a large frying pan on medium heat. Once hot, add the bacon lardons. Stir-fry until golden, 4-5 mins.

Next, melt in the butter (see pantry for amount).

Once hot, add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 min, then stir in the flour (see pantry for amount) and cook until it forms a paste, 1-2 mins - you've made a roux!

Stir in the water for the sauce (see pantry for amount) a little at a time, followed by the creme fraiche and veg stock paste.

Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer, stirring until thickened, 2-3 mins.

4

Meanwhile, preheat your grill to high.

Once the sauce has thickened, remove from the heat, then stir through the hard Italian style cheese, Cheddar, pesto, peas, cavolo nero and cooked macaroni.

Add a splash of water if it's a little thick. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.

5

Transfer the creamy pasta to an ovenproof dish and top evenly with the herby crumb.

Place your mac and cheese on a baking tray and grill until golden, 4-5 mins.

6

Share your pesto mac and cheese between your plates.

Enjoy!

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