BY Elizabeth Van Lierde ON October 9, 2018 UPDATED ON February 10, 2023

SKIP TO RECIPE

When it comes to side dishes, sometimes having the traditional starch-based side dish and a vegetable side dish is just what the meal calls for.

This rings especially true when you’re throwing a Friendsgiving. The more side dishes the better. Brussels sprouts, potatoes au gratin, garlic green beans, and of course: mac and cheese.

Gruyere & Gouda Bacon Apple Mac and Cheese

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

When it comes to side dishes, sometimes you just need to go old-school with a starch-based side dish and a vegetable side dish. And what better starch than a bacon mac and cheese?

Course Salads & Sides, Soups

Servings 8

Calories 610 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 lb (16 oz) of curly macaroni pasta
• 8 oz bacon
• 1 pink lady apple, diced
• .25 cups unsalted butter
• .25 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp fresh rosemary, minced
• .5 tsp Kosher salt
• .5 tsp black pepper
• .5 tsp onion powder
• 2.5 cups whole milk
• 1 cups Fontina cheese, shredded
• 1 cups Gouda cheese, shredded
• 1.5 cups Gruyere cheese, shredded (reserve ½ Cup for topping)

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Spray a casserole dish with nonstick spray.
• Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Drop pasta in and boil for 7-9 minutes or until al dente. Drain pasta and set aside.
• Cook bacon on low heat until fat has rendered and bacon is crispy. Set bacon on a paper towel-lined plate and crumble when cooled.
• Sauté diced apple in bacon fat for 5-7 minutes or until tender. Transfer apple to a small bowl and set aside.
• In a large sauté pan, melt ¼ cup butter on medium heat. Add flour to melted butter and cook for two minutes, whisking occasionally. Add in minced garlic, rosemary, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Whisk to avoid burning.
• Add milk to butter/flour mixture and turn heat up to medium-high. Whisk mixture occasionally for 3-4 minutes or until boiling and the mixture has thickened.
• Remove milk mixture from heat and whisk in one cup each of Gouda, Fontina and Gruyere cheese until melted. Stir in apples and crumbled bacon. Stir cheese sauce into macaroni noodles. To the casserole dish, transfer mixture.
• Sprinkle with remaining ½ cup of Gruyere and bake for 10-15 minutes or until top is golden.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 610kcalCarbohydrates: 30.2gProtein: 33.4gFat: 39.2gSaturated Fat: 20.5gCholesterol: 124mgSodium: 1283mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8.5g

Keyword Cheese, Fall, Side dishes

THEINSPIREDHOME.COM

Photography by Abagail Halstead & Elizabeth Van Lierde / Recipe by Elizabeth Van Lierde

This recipe originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2018 issue of The Inspired Home Journal, in the article “Boho Bash.”