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Apple Bacon Mac and Cheese

Sweet & savory, with salty bacon, tart apples, & sharp cheesy goodness - Apple Bacon Mac and Cheese is the easy comfort food recipe you've been looking for!
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 6
Author Chelsia Rief

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 2 Granny Smith Apples peeled, cored and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 lb. elbow macaroni cooked according to package directions
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 3 cups milk at room temperature
  • 8 oz. sharp white cheddar cheese shredded, about 2 cups
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 1/3 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley chopped

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat, stirring frequently, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate. Pour off all but 1 Tablespoon fat, add the apples and cook stirring frequently, until browned and beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.

    In a pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain the pasta.

    In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, whisking constantly, for 1 minute. Whisk in the milk; cook until smooth and thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and add 1 1/2 cups cheese and a generous sprinkling of pepper; whisk until smooth.

    In a bowl, add the pasta, sauce, apples, and parsley; toss well. Reserve 1/4 cup of the bacon. Add the remaining bacon to the pasta, toss. Season with salt and pepper.

    Pour the pasta into a 9×13 baking dish. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese and bake for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with reserved bacon and serve hot.

Recipe Notes

Slightly adapted from Rachael Ray Magazine