Baked mac and cheese with smoked sausage

What could be better than creamy mac and cheese paired with Conecuh smoked sausage? Answer: Not much.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baked, conecuh sausage, mac and cheese

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• ▢1 lb Conecuh Original Smoked Sausage sliced 1/2 inch thick
• ▢1/4 cup butter
• ▢1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• ▢3 cups whole milk
• ▢1 1/2 cups shredded American cheese divided
• ▢1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• ▢1/2 tsp kosher salt
• ▢1/4 tsp paprika
• ▢1/4 tsp ground red pepper
• ▢1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• ▢1 (16-ounce) package elbow macaroni cooked

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 2 1/2 quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

• In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 minutes. Set sausage aside. Wipe skillet.

• In same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in milk; bring to a boil, whisking until slightly thickened, about 7 minutes.

• Stir in 1 cup American cheese, Cheddar, salt, paprika, and peppers until smooth. Stir in cooked macaroni and sausage; spoon into prepared dish.

  This quick Smoked Sausage Mac and Cheese is made on the stovetop and can be ready to eat in about 30 minutes. A fun twist on classic Macaroni and Cheese. Pair with a veggie side dish to make it a full meal!

  

  Smoked Sausage Mac and Cheese | Homemade!

  I’ve been on the hunt looking for easy, fast, simple meals. I mentioned something about this to my husband and in typical boy fashion responded with a “why don’t you just make macaroni and cheese with cut-up hot dogs?”

  Are there any other husbands out there that make a killer macaroni and cheese with cut-up hot dogs? Just my husband?

  That’s what I thought. Anyways.

  I’m not a huge fan of the boxed macaroni and cheese. The powdered cheese is not real cheese, no matter what the packaging says! So, I decided to make my own version of this beloved staple with real ingredients. Smoked Sausage Mac and Cheese, the adult version of macaroni and cheese with cut-up hot dogs, if you will.

  Creamy, easy, delicious and ready in about 30 minutes total. Not too shabby for a weeknight.

  

  Main Ingredients Needed

  Here’s everything you’ll need to make this homemade smoked sausage mac and cheese:

  • Elbow Pasta – you can use any type of pasta here but to keep things traditional I used elbow pasta.
  • Butter + Flour – this is to make a roux, which flavors and makes a stable sauce.
  • Milk – this is to transform the roux into a bechamel sauce. Lots of creaminess here!
  • Nutmeg – just a pinch for some nuttiness.
  • Salt + Pepper – season to taste!
  • Cheddar + Parmesan Cheese – I used both for lots of great cheesy flavor. These also thicken the sauce.
  • Smoked Sausage – I used Butterball Hardwood Smoked Turkey Sausage (a kid-friendly choice) but feel free to use your favorite type of sausage!
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  How to Make Smoked Sausage Mac and Cheese

  For full details on how to make Smoked Sausage Mac and Cheese, see the recipe card down below 🙂

  Cook Pasta

  Bring a large pot of water to boil. Cook one pound of macaroni pasta until al dente.

  Make a Bechamel Sauce

  Place your hot pot back on the heat, melt in some butter and then whisk in some flour. Let this cook about a minute before whisking in the milk. Leave the heat on medium-low to let the sauce thicken slowly. If you bring the milk to a boil, it may curdle, and let’s be honest….that would not be delicious.

  Add Cheese + Season

  While that is doing its thing, grate some cheddar cheese. We need 4 cups total.

  Once your sauce has thickened, slowly stir in all that grated cheddar and a little parmesan cheese. Stir it up until smooth. Now would be a good time to taste and see if it needs more salt and pepper.

  Add Sausage + Serve

  So now, crack open your sausage of choice! Cut into cubes and add it into the hot pot with the cooked pasta.

  Give it a good stir and make sure everything heats thoroughly and evenly, then dish it up and serve.

  

  More Mac and Cheese Recipes to Try!

  • Camping Mac and Cheese
  • Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
  • Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
  • Pimento Mac and Cheese
  • Broccoli Mac and Cheese
  • Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
  • Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

  This is my idea of comfort food!! Smooth and cheesy, creamy and delicious 🙂

  Printable recipe below. Have a great day, friends!

  

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  4.86 from 7 votes

  Smoked Sausage Mac and Cheese

  This quick Smoked Sausage Mac and Cheese is made on the stovetop and can be ready to eat in about 30 minutes. Pair with a veggie side dish!

  servings 6 servings

  Prep Time 10 mins

  Cook Time 20 mins

  Total Time 30 mins

  Ingredients

  • ▢1 lb macaroni pasta
  • ▢4 tablespoons butter
  • ▢4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ▢3 cups whole milk
  • ▢pinch of nutmeg
  • ▢salt & pepper to taste
  • ▢4 cups medium cheddar cheese grated
  • ▢1 cup parmesan cheese grated
  • ▢1 package turkey sausage diced

  US Customary – Metric

  Instructions

  • Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

  • Replace pot back to medium heat. Melt butter, then whisk in flour. Cook 1 minute. Whisk in milk slowly to prevent lumps from forming.

  • Add nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste. Cook 5 minutes over medium low heat to thicken sauce without curdling the milk.

    Should mac and cheese be baked covered or uncovered?

    No, it's not necessary to cover mac and cheese while it bakes. You want the topping to become golden brown and crispy so baking uncovered is a must.

    What is the best cheese combination for mac and cheese?

    For a mac and cheese recipe, consider the combination of sharper cheddar cheeses and a flavorful Parmesan. This cheese adds a boost of fruity, nutty notes to your favorite macaroni recipes. Parmesan is also ideal for grating on top of mac and cheese before you bake it to add golden color.

    What cheeses are best for baked mac and cheese?

    Gruyere is a classic addition because it melts much like Cheddar, but has a lovely nutty flavor. Other classics include Gouda, Muenster, Parmesan, fontina, Havarti and Monterey Jack. Brie works well too, just make sure you remove the rind before mixing it in.

    What can you add to mac and cheese to give it flavor?

    Here are a few of my favorite ways to upgrade boxed mac and cheese in three ingredients or fewer:.

    Broccoli + Shredded Chicken. ... .

    Bacon + Peas + Egg. ... .

    Garlic + Pickled Jalapeños. ... .

    Mushrooms + Thyme + Grated Gruyère. ... .

    Pesto + Sun-Dried Tomatoes. ... .

    Kimchi + Bacon + Chopped Scallions. ... .

    Cherry Tomatoes + Basil + Mozzarella..