Italian Sausage Macaroni & Cheese
Submitted by bauhs
Spicy Italian sausage mac and cheese with mushrooms, hot peppers, and two cheeses baked until bubbly. Hearty one-dish comfort food with oregano, basil, and garlic in creamy sauce.
YIELD
4 servingsPREP
15 minCOOK
35 minREADY
1 hrsThis isn’t your grandma’s mac and cheese. We’re talking hot Italian sausage, earthy mushrooms, and a kick of chili peppers all tangled up with elbow macaroni in a creamy herb-spiked sauce.
The sausage drippings become the base for a silky sauce loaded with garlic, oregano, and basil.
Layer it all in a casserole with Parmesan and Monterey Jack, then bake until the cheese melts into gooey, bubbly pools.
This is stick-to-your-ribs comfort food with an Italian attitude, great for feeding a hungry crowd on a weeknight.
Kitchen Tips
- Use the sausage fat: Those 2 tablespoons of drippings carry tons of flavor. They’re the secret to a rich, savory sauce.
- Cook mushrooms dry: Let all the liquid evaporate before adding flour. Wet mushrooms make a watery sauce that won’t coat the pasta properly.
- Taste your sausage first: Hot Italian sausage varies wildly in heat level. If yours is mild, keep the hot pepper; if it’s fiery, you might skip it.
- Layer for even cheese: Putting sausage in the middle ensures every bite gets meat, while the top layer of Jack melts into that irresistible golden crust.
Ingredients
Directions
Cook the macaroni in water according to directions; drain.
Crumble sausage into a 10 in pan; cook over med high heat until well browned.
Lift out sausage from the frying pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.
Discard all but 2 tbsp drippikngs.
Into the drippings, add the butter and onion and cook, stirring until onion is limp.
Adds the garlic, pepper and mushrooms and cook until mushrooms are soft and all liquid evaporates.
Stir in the flour and cook until bubbly.
Gradually stir in the milk to make a smooth sauce.
Continue cooking and sditrring until sauce thickens, about 3 minutes.
Add oregano, basil, salt, Parmesan cheese and drained macaroni; stir to coat.
Place half of the macaroni mixture in a buttered 2½ quart baking dish .
Sprinkle the sausage on top.
Then layer the remaining macaroni, the Jack cheese.
Bake uncovered in a 400℉ (200℃). oven for 20 min or until the cheese is bubbly and center is hot.
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