Canuck-a-roni Delight—Dinner for 4
Canuck-a-roni Delight is a comforting dinner dish that combines Italian and Canadian flavors. This classic pasta meal features a rich, creamy sauce with Canadian bacon and cheese, served over perfectly cooked pasta. Satisfying and delicious, it’s the ultimate fusion of two beloved cuisines.
Meal Type
Dinner
Cuisine
Fusion
Italian
Canadian
Servings
4
Food Stars
Pasta
Bacon
Cheese
Health
Variations
Diets
Variations
Do This With That Stuff
- Fill the large pot with water and bring to a boil over high heat
- Add 1 lb of pasta to the boiling water, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, and cook according to package instructions for al dente texture
- While the pasta is cooking, use the cutting board and chef’s knife to chop 1/2 cup onion, mince 2 cloves of garlic, and dice 1 cup Canadian bacon
- Once the pasta is cooked, use the colander to drain it and set aside
- In the large skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat
- Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet, stirring with a wooden spoon until softened (about 3 minutes)
- Add diced Canadian bacon to the skillet and cook until lightly browned (about 5 minutes)
- Sprinkle 1/4 cup all-purpose flour over the mixture in the skillet, stirring constantly for about 2 minutes
- Gradually whisk in 2 cups milk into the skillet mixture until smooth and thickened (about 5 minutes)
- Stir in 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp dried basil, and 1/4 tsp dried oregano into the sauce
- Remove skillet from heat and add cooked pasta into the sauce mixture, stirring well to combine
- Use a grater to shred both mozzarella cheese (15 cups) and cheddar cheese (15 cups)
- Preheat oven broiler on high setting while mixing half of shredded mozzarella cheese and half of shredded cheddar cheese into pasta mixture until evenly distributed
- Transfer pasta mixture into an oven-safe dish or pan suitable for broiling
- Top with remaining mozzarella cheese and cheddar cheese evenly across surface of pasta mixture
- Place dish under broiler for about 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly; watch closely as broilers can burn food quickly if unattended
- Remove dish from oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving
Obvious and Not So Obvious Variations and Pairings
☕ Bitter
- Add 1/2 cup chopped radicchio
- Add 1/4 cup chopped endive
- Add 1 tsp ground coffee
- Add 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
🧂 Salty
- Increase salt to 1/2 tsp
- Add 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Add 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, chopped
- Replace Canadian bacon with 1 cup diced pancetta
🍋 Sour
- Add 1/4 cup lemon juice
- Add 1/4 cup capers, drained
- Add 1/2 cup chopped pickles
- Replace milk with 2 cups buttermilk
🌶️ Spicy
- Add 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- Add 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- Increase dried basil to 1/2 tsp
- Increase dried oregano to 1/2 tsp
🍬 Sweet
- Add 1/4 cup maple syrup
- Add 1/2 cup diced pineapple
- Add 1/4 cup raisins
- Replace Canadian bacon with 1 cup diced ham
🍄 Umami
- Add 1 tbsp soy sauce
- Add 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Add 1/2 tsp ground porcini mushroom powder
- Increase the garlic to 4 cloves, minced
🍸 Alcoholic
- Chianti: The acidity and tannins in Chianti cut through the richness of the cheese and bacon, complementing the Italian flavors
- Pinot Grigio: The crisp, light nature of Pinot Grigio balances the heaviness of the pasta dish
- Canadian Whisky Sour: The tangy, citrusy notes in this cocktail contrast with the creamy, savory flavors in Canuck-a-roni Delight
🥤 Non Alcoholic
- Sparkling Water with Lemon: The acidity and effervescence help to cleanse the palate between bites
- Iced Green Tea: The slight bitterness and astringency of the tea balance the richness of the cheeses
- Tomato Juice: The savory, umami flavor complements the Italian herbs and Canadian bacon in the dish
🥓 Keto
- Replace 1 lb pasta with 1 lb zucchini noodles
- Remove 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- Replace 2 cups milk with 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- Increase olive oil to 2 tbsp
🍆 Mediterranean
- Replace Canadian bacon with 1 cup diced artichoke hearts
- Add 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives
- Replace cheddar cheese with 1 1/2 cups shredded feta cheese
- Add 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- Add 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
🥑 Paleo
- Replace 1 lb pasta with 1 lb spiralized zucchini
- Replace 1/4 cup all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup almond flour
- Replace 2 cups milk with 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- Remove Canadian bacon
- Remove shredded mozzarella cheese
- Remove shredded cheddar cheese
- Add 1 cup diced cooked chicken breast
🐟 Pescatarian
- Replace Canadian bacon with 1 cup cooked shrimp
- Add 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
🌱 Vegan
- Replace Canadian bacon with 1 cup diced smoked tempeh
- Replace milk with 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- Replace mozzarella cheese with 1 1/2 cups shredded vegan mozzarella
- Replace cheddar cheese with 1 1/2 cups shredded vegan cheddar
🥦 Vegetarian
- Replace 1 cup Canadian bacon with 1 cup diced smoked tofu
- Add 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
🥩 Whole30
- Replace 1 lb pasta with 1 lb zucchini noodles
- Replace 1/4 cup all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup almond flour
- Replace 2 cups milk with 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- Remove Canadian bacon
- Remove shredded mozzarella cheese
- Remove shredded cheddar cheese
🧠 Brain Health
- Replace pasta with 1 lb whole wheat pasta
- Replace Canadian bacon with 1 cup smoked salmon
- Replace all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
- Replace milk with 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- Increase olive oil to 2 tbsp
- Add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- Add 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
🌾 Celiac Disease
- Replace 1 lb pasta with 1 lb gluten-free pasta
- Replace 1/4 cup all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
💩 Crohns Disease
- Replace pasta with gluten-free pasta
- Replace all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour
- Replace milk with lactose-free milk
- Remove garlic
- Replace onion with 1/2 cup chopped green onions (green parts only)
🩸 Diabetes
- Replace pasta with 1 lb whole wheat pasta
- Replace all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup almond flour
- Replace milk with 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- Increase olive oil to 2 tbsp
- Decrease Canadian bacon to 1/2 cup
- Increase onion to 1 cup
- Add 1 cup chopped bell peppers
🍞 Gluten Intolerance
- Replace 1 lb pasta with 1 lb gluten-free pasta
- Replace 1/4 cup all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
🫀 Heart Disease
- Replace pasta with whole wheat pasta
- Replace Canadian bacon with turkey bacon
- Replace all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour
- Decrease olive oil to 1/2 tbsp
- Replace milk with unsweetened almond milk
- Decrease mozzarella cheese to 3/4 cup
- Decrease cheddar cheese to 3/4 cup
❤️ Heart Health
- Replace pasta with whole wheat pasta
- Decrease olive oil to 1/2 tbsp
- Replace Canadian bacon with 1 cup diced turkey bacon
- Replace all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour
- Replace milk with 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- Increase dried basil to 1/2 tsp
- Increase dried oregano to 1/2 tsp
- Replace mozzarella cheese with 3/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
- Replace cheddar cheese with 3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
🧂 High Blood Pressure
- Decrease salt to 1/8 tsp
- Replace Canadian bacon with 1 cup diced cooked chicken breast
- Replace 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese with 1 1/2 cups shredded low-sodium cheddar cheese
- Replace 2 cups milk with 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
🍔 High Cholesterol
- Replace Canadian bacon with 1 cup diced turkey bacon
- Replace 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese with 1 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese
- Replace 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese with 1 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese
- Replace 2 cups milk with 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
🦠 Immune System
- Replace pasta with whole wheat pasta
- Replace Canadian bacon with 1 cup diced cooked chicken breast
- Replace all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour
- Add 1/2 cup chopped bell peppers
- Add 1/2 cup chopped spinach
- Add 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
🚽 Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Replace pasta with 1 lb gluten-free pasta
- Replace onion with 1/2 cup green onion tops, chopped
- Replace garlic with 1/4 tsp garlic-infused olive oil
- Replace all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup rice flour
- Replace milk with 2 cups lactose-free milk
- Increase salt to 1/2 tsp
💧 Kidney Disease
- Replace pasta with whole wheat pasta
- Decrease olive oil to 1/2 tbsp
- Replace Canadian bacon with 1 cup diced zucchini
- Replace all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
- Replace milk with 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- Decrease salt to 1/8 tsp
- Decrease mozzarella cheese to 3/4 cup
- Decrease cheddar cheese to 3/4 cup
🐄 Lactose Intolerance
- Replace milk with 2 cups lactose-free milk
- Replace mozzarella cheese with 1 1/2 cups lactose-free mozzarella cheese
- Replace cheddar cheese with 1 1/2 cups lactose-free cheddar cheese
🍺 Liver Disease
- Replace Canadian bacon with 1 cup diced turkey bacon
- Decrease olive oil to 1/2 tbsp
- Replace all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
- Replace milk with 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- Decrease salt to 1/8 tsp
- Replace mozzarella cheese with 1 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese
- Replace cheddar cheese with 1 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese
🤰 Pregnancy
- Replace Canadian bacon with 1 cup cooked and crumbled turkey bacon
- Use pasteurized milk
Beti’s Reflections
It all started on a chilly evening when I was craving something warm and comforting. As I rummaged through my pantry, I stumbled upon a delightful fusion of Italian and Canadian flavors that would soon become my go-to comfort dish: Canuck-a-roni Delight! This cheesy pasta bake is the ultimate combination of Italian Canadian fusion, featuring a rich, creamy sauce with Canadian bacon and cheese served over perfectly cooked pasta.
This Canuck-a-roni Delight recipe serves four people and is perfect for those who love indulging in cheesy goodness. However, if you have allergies to cheese or are looking for vegan pasta dishes, this might not be the best option for you.
The key ingredients in this delicious dish include 1 lb of pasta (such as penne or fusilli), 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 cup chopped onion, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 cup diced Canadian bacon, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 2 cups milk, a blend of seasonings (salt, black pepper, dried basil, and dried oregano), and a generous helping of shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Each ingredient plays an essential role in creating the perfect balance of flavors in this baked fusilli penne masterpiece.
To create your own Canuck-a-roni Delight at home, start by boiling your pasta until al dente. While the pasta cooks, chop your onion and garlic and dice your Canadian bacon. In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the onion and garlic until softened before adding the Canadian bacon to cook until lightly browned. Next comes the flour to thicken up your sauce before gradually whisking in milk to create a smooth consistency. Stir in your seasonings before adding the cooked pasta into the sauce mixture. Now it’s time for that cheesy goodness! Mix half of both shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses into the pasta mixture before transferring it to an oven-safe dish. Top with the remaining cheese and broil until melted and bubbly. Voilà! Your cheesy Canadian bacon pasta is ready to be devoured.
In conclusion, this Canuck-a-roni Delight recipe is the perfect way to satisfy your cravings for a warm, comforting meal that combines the best of Italian and Canadian cuisine. With its creamy sauce, Canadian bacon, and gooey cheese over perfectly cooked pasta, it’s no wonder this dish has become a favorite in TheKitchen.ai community. So go ahead, indulge in this delicious Italian style Canadian pasta and let us know how much you love it!
under bitter: “Add 1 tsp ground coffee” – do you mean, instant coffee? I don’t understand…?
and cocoa powder? That’s interesting, huh