[[!meta title="Apple Bacon Mac and Cheese"]]

2900 cal/recipe

## Ingredients

+ 6 bacon slices
+ 3 granny smith apples, chopped
+ 1 onion, chopped
+ 8 oz uncooked shell pasta
+ 2 tbsp butter
+ 2 tbsp flour
+ ¼ tsp black pepper
+ 2 c whole milk
+ 2 tsp prepared Dijon mustard
+ 1 c shredded white cheddar
+ 1 c shredded smoked gouda

## Directions

+ Preheat oven to 350°F. 
+ In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. 
+ Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and crumble into pieces when cool. 
+ Drain bacon drippings from skillet, leaving 1 tablespoon. 
+ Add apples and onion to skillet. 
+ Cook until tender, about 5 minutes, and then set aside. 
+ Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside. 
+ In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. 
+ Stir in flour and ground black pepper until combined. 
+ Cook for 3 minutes to form a roux. 
+ Add milk all at once. Cook and stir until slightly thickened and bubbly. 
+ Add mustard and both cheeses, stirring until melted. 
+ Stir pasta, apples and half of the bacon into cheese sauce, stirring to coat. 
+ Transfer to a 2-quart square baking dish. 
+ Bake, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes. 
+ Sprinkle with remaining bacon.

[[!tag final cheese pasta]]