Step 1

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. • Heat a large dry pan over medium heat. Add bacon*; cook, turning occasionally and adjusting heat if browning too quickly, until crispy, 6-10 minutes. • Turn off heat; transfer to a paper-towel- lined plate. • Carefully discard bacon fat and wipe out pan.

Step 2

• While bacon cooks, wash and dry produce. • Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens.

Step 3

• Once water is boiling, add cavatappi to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 9-11 minutes. • Reserve 1 1⁄2 cups pasta cooking water (3 cups for 8 servings), then drain. • While pasta cooks, place 2 TBSP butter (4 TBSP for 8) in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until melted, 30 seconds. Stir in panko and half the Frank’s Seasoning Blend. Season with pepper.

Step 4

• Place 2 TBSP butter (4 TBSP for 8 servings) in a second small microwave-safe bowl; microwave until melted, 30 seconds. Stir in half the remaining Frank’s Seasoning Blend.

Step 5

• Heat pan used for bacon over medium heat. Add 2 TBSP of butter and a drizzle of oil. Slowly add flour, whisking until color has slightly darkened and flour is bubbling. • Add scallion whites, garlic powder, and remaining Frank’s Seasoning Blend. Cook 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant. • Whisk in cream sauce base, cream cheese, Buffalo sauce, and 1 cup reserved pasta cooking water (2 cups for 8 servings); reduce heat to low. Simmer, whisking, until sauce is smooth and slightly thickened, 2-3 minutes. • Whisk in Mexican Cheese Blend until melted and creamy.

Step 6

• Roughly chop bacon. Stir drained cavatappi and half the bacon into pan with cheese sauce. (TIP: If your pan is not large enough, carefully transfer everything into pot used to cook pasta.) If needed, stir in more reserved pasta cooking water a splash at a time until cavatappi is coated in a creamy sauce. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 7

• Transfer mac & cheese to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish (for 8 servings, use two 9-by-13-inch baking dishes). Top with panko topping. • Bake until panko is browned and sauce is bubbly, 10-12 minutes (for 8, swap rack positions halfway through). Sprinkle with remaining bacon and scallion greens. • Divide between plates or serve directly from baking dish. Pork is fully cooked when internal temperature reaches 145°.