Sausage Mac And Cheese
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Simple ingredients mix together to create a smooth and creamy Smoked Sausage Mac and Cheese on the stove top in under 30 minutes.
This quick family meal adds more protein and flavor to a classic pasta dish.
This post is sponsored by Utah Pork, but all opinions are my own!
A Simple Skillet Meal Recipe
During the school year we’re always looking for easy recipes like this Sausage Mac and Cheese to enjoy as a family.
Figuring out what to make for dinner that everyone will eat takes a lot of effort. The kids love our Kielbasa and Potatoes and Pulled Pork Nachos. Since they love the flavor of pork we kept testing familiar favorites to create this new meal idea. Our Sausage Mac and Cheese recipe is a winner!
This skillet meal is also inspired by blending our favorite parts of Velveeta Shells and Cheese and Oven Roasted Kielbasa to make a meal that our picky eaters enjoy.
Why This Macaroni and Cheese With Sausage Recipe Works:
- This easy skillet meal puts a spin on a popular homemade meal to mix up the dinner menu.
- Adds more protein to a family friendly meal. Eating 20 to 30 grams of protein per meal helps fuel your body and helps you feel fuller. Every 3 ounces of pork is packed with 22 – 24 grams of protein.
- Budget friendly and the leftovers freeze and reheat really well throughout the week.
- Meat, cheese and pasta blend beautifully in this recipe as well as in our Baked Pasta Casserole and Spaghetti Pizza.
Ingredients Needed:
- Smoked Sausage – pork sausage has the most flavor that is enhanced during the smoking and cooking process. Brown lightly in vegetable oil for an extra layer of flavor.
- Vegetable Oil – to help brown the smoked sausage or Kielbasa.
- Elbow Macaroni – small or medium shells work fine too, stick with one pound of small pasta.
- Butter – keeps the pasta from sticking together.
- Evaporated Milk – makes this recipe so much richer.
- Milk – we keep 2% on hand and that works fine.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese – we like using at least two different cheese in mac and cheese.
- Velveeta Cheese – creates a smooth and creamy cheesiness.
How To Make Sausage Mac And Cheese
Boil a pot of water and salt with about 1 teaspoon of sea salt. Add pasta and cook according to the directions on the package. Drain and stir in butter.
While the pasta is cooking slice the smoked sausage.
Heat a large, deep skillet and oil to medium high heat. Once skillet is hot carefully add the Kielbasa sausage taking care not to splash the oil out of the pan.
Using tongs turn coins of meat often until lightly browned.
Set aside on a clean plate.
Turn skillet down to medium heat. Add cooked pasta to the skillet.
Pour regular milk and a can of evaporated milk over the pasta and stir.
Then sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the macaroni.
Cut Velveeta or process cheese into small cubes and sprinkle evenly over the top.
Place lid on the skillet for 5 to 10 minutes until cheese melts.
Set lid aside and stir well.
Add coins of Smoked Sausage back to the macaroni and cheese and stir. Cook on medium heat until warmed through.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Cheddar cheese can be substituted for almost any shredded cheese that you have on hand to change up the flavor.
- Stir in a bag of cooked and drained broccoli florets to add more veggies and round out the meal.
- Sauteed peppers and onions also mix well into the finished dish.
- To add some spice to this meal use Andoullie sausage.
- Italian sausage can be fully cooked and sliced before adding to the skillet too.
- Adding up to a tablespoon of minced onion flakes adds more flavor – my kids prefer it plain, it’s typically adults that enjoy this additional ingredient.
- Using smoked sausage that may be browned to enhance the natural flavors or may be added to the dish without browning since it is pre-cooked means the dish is done with the cheese is melted and the meat is warmed through.
- When you buy pork at the grocery store across the United States, you are supporting family farms in Utah and the United States! I love knowing that it’s not just shopping at a farmer’s market that supports farms in the USA!
More Easy Skillet Meal Recipes
Cowboy Breakfast Skillet – really makes a great meal anytime of the day!
SPAM Fried Rice – adds protein and maximizes flavor in a family favorite skillet meal.
Bacon Quesadillas and Pulled Pork Quesadillas make a great after school snack or quick meal.
Pierogi and Kielbasa is one of our all-time most popular easy skillet meals!
Smoked Sausage Mac and Cheese
Author: JenniferIngredients
- 1 pound smoked sausage
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup milk
- 12 ounces evaporated milk
- 16 ounces Velveeta cheese
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Cook pasta is salted water according to the directions on the package. Drain and stir in butter.
- Slice smoked sausage into 1/2" or slightly thinner pieces. Add oil to a large, deep skillet and heat to medium high heat. Add slices of sausage to a hot skillet to sear the edges. Flip often until lightly browned on each side.
- Set sausage aside on a plate.
- Set to medium heat. Pour cooked pasta coated in butter into the skillet.
- Add milk and evaporated milk; stir.
- Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top. Cut Velveeta cheese into 1" or smaller cubes. Sprinkle the cubes evenly over the top.
- Place lid on the skillet and cook let warm for 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and milk is warm. Stir well.
- Sprinkle browned sausage on top of the macaroni and cheese or stir in. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until meat is warm. Serve and enjoy!
Big fan of this one! Def will be keeping it in the rotation for dinner options in my household.