Description
A rich and comforting Sausage Mac and Cheese recipe featuring tender elbow pasta, flavorful Italian sausage, and a creamy sharp white cheddar cheese sauce, perfect for a hearty family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound dry elbow pasta
Sausage
- 1 pound bulk Italian sausage (mild, sweet or hot depending on your preference)
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup flour
- 3 ½ cups milk
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground mustard
- 4 cups freshly grated sharp white cheddar cheese (do not use pre-grated cheese)
- Salt to taste
Garnish
- Freshly chopped parsley or chives
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the sausage: In a large pot over medium heat, cook the bulk Italian sausage. Use a wooden spoon to break up the sausage into small pieces. Cook until browned and cooked through. Transfer the sausage to a plate or bowl and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: In the same pot, add butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Make the roux and sauce: Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute to create a roux. Gradually whisk in the milk, stirring constantly to combine. Add black pepper, smoked paprika, and ground mustard. Continue cooking over medium heat, stirring constantly, for about 10 minutes until the sauce thickens to a creamy soup-like consistency.
- Add cheese: Stir in the freshly grated sharp white cheddar cheese until fully melted and smooth. Season the cheese sauce with salt and additional pepper to taste.
- Combine pasta and sausage: Add the drained pasta and cooked sausage back into the cheese sauce. Stir well to ensure everything is evenly coated and combined.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from heat, garnish with freshly chopped parsley or chives, and serve hot for a delicious, comforting meal.
Notes
- This mac and cheese is super creamy and decadently cheesy — perfect for a comforting dinner everyone will love.
- Serve alongside your favorite vegetable or a simple green salad to balance the richness of the dish.
- Use freshly grated cheese instead of pre-grated for the best melting texture and flavor.
- Adjust the spice level of the sausage to your preference: mild, sweet, or hot.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 1038 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 1135 mg
- Fat: 64 g
- Saturated Fat: 29 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 27 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 72 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 44 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg
