Italian Mac and Cheese
Sausage Mac
and Cheese Casserole is the best comfort food. Dinner is easy when you prepare
this tasty pan with hearty meat, pasta, cheese and more.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 red pepper diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream or half and half
- 1 16 oz jar marinara
- 1 large onion diced
- 4 cups chicken broth I used Better Than Bouillon
- 12 oz cavatappi
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- salt for taste
- pepper for taste
- fresh chopped parsley
- 1 lb sausage with casing removed or ground sausage or your choice of meat
- couple pinches of crushed red pepper optional
Instructions
First, In a
large skillet or baking pan over medium-high heat, cook sausage until golden
brown, breaking it while cooking. Place on the side. Add the vegetable oil. Once
the oil is warmed, add the onions, garlic and red peppers. Saute until softened
about 4-5 minutes.
Then, Add
cavatappi and stir until well coated, then pour over marinara and broth and
season with salt. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low
and simmer until pasta is al dente and almost all the liquid has been absorbed,
about 25 minutes.
Add whipping
cream and simmer for a few minutes until most is absorbed.
Remove from heat and
stir in half of the mozzarella. Do not hesitate to add more cheese if you wish.
Mix well until cheese is melted. Season with salt and pepper if necessary.
If you are
using the baking pan in which you have cooked the vegetables and pasta, simply
sprinkle the other half of the top of the cheese and cook uncovered for 10
minutes or until the cheese is melted.
If you want
to use a baking dish, pour the cheese macaroni into the dish and sprinkle the
rest of the grated cheese on top. Add more cheese if you like. Bake for 10 minutes
or until cheese is melted.
I love that
my Italian cheese macaroni is nice and sparkling with tiny brown spots (as you
can see in the pictures), so I set the oven to grill for the last 3 to 5
minutes and grill them. Serve immediately with garlic bread. Happy Cooking
time.
