Bacon BBQ Cheeseburger Casserole

INGREDIENTS

1 lb Ground Beef
1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
3 TBSP Ranch Seasoning
4 Cloves Garlic (Minced)
1 TBSP Garlic Powder
1 TBSP Onion Powder
1 tsp Sea Salt
1 tsp Black Pepper
6 Slices Thick Cut Bacon (Sliced)
1 TBSP Olive Oil (Optional)
2 Green Bell Peppers (Chopped)
1 Medium Yellow Onion (Chopped)
1 lb Elbow Macaroni
6 Cups Chicken Broth
2 Cups Water
Chives (Garnish)

-Cheddar Cheese Sauce-

1/2 lb Mild Cheddar Block (Cut into Chunks)
3-4 Cups Shredded Cheddar
8 oz Cream Cheese (Cut into Chunks)
1/2 Cup Butter
1 Cup Milk

-BBQ Sauce-

1 Cup Ketchup
1/3 Cup Mustard
Dash of Worcestershire Sauce
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 TBSP Garlic Powder
1 TBSP Onion Powder
1 tsp Sea Salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with aluminum foil.
2. Whisk ingredients for bbq sauce together and set aside. Mix ground beef with worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, ranch, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, and pepper. Set aside.
3. Prepare cheese sauce by melting butter, then cream cheese, then cheddar cheese chunks in a sauce pan. Add milk and bring to a simmer. Whisk often as you work through the rest of the recipe.
4. As cheese sauce simmers, bring water and chicken broth mixture to a boil. When water and broth mixture is boiling, add pasta and cook about 8 minutes. Drain and return to pot. Remove cheese sauce from heat and set aside.
5. Meanwhile, start cooking bacon in a large, deep skillet (optional: use olive oil to help keep it from sticking). After about 5 minutes, add onion and green pepper to the skillet. Cook for about 5 more minutes (bacon will remain tender; if you prefer it crispy, cook alone until desired crispiness then set aside to be added back later). Add ground beef and cook through. Drain excess liquid and stir into pasta.
6. Stir in 1/2 of the cheese sauce and about 1/2 of the bbq sauce into pasta mix. Carefully spread pasta mix into baking dish, then pour remaining cheese sauce evenly over the top. Bake for 20 minutes. Top with shredded cheddar (allow it to melt), then spread remaining bbq sauce evenly over the top.
7. Garnish with chives. Let cool and thicken at least 10 minutes and serve.