Italian Mac and Cheese

Name: Italian Mac and Cheese
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 5 Servings
Ingredients: 8 ounces penne pasta; 10 ounces Italian sausage; 🧈 1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter; 🥛 1 cup 1% milk; 🥛 ½ cup heavy whipping cream; 1 ¼ ounces grated mozzarella cheese; 1 ¼ ounces grated provolone cheese; 1 ¼ ounces grated Fontina cheese; 🧀 1 ¼ ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese; 🧄 2 cloves garlic, minced; 🍅 ¼ cup julienned sun-dried tomatoes; 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes (Optional); 1 tablespoon flour; ¼ cup reserved pasta water

Cost $15, save $10

Source: Recommended by CookPal

35 Min
5 Servings
$15

Italian Mac and Cheese

Cost $15, save $10

Source: Recommended by CookPal

35 Min
5 Servings
$15

INGREDIENTS

Pasta
- 8 ounces penne pasta
Meat
- 10 ounces Italian sausage
Dairy
- 🧈 1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter
- 🥛 1 cup 1% milk
- 🥛 ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 ¼ ounces grated mozzarella cheese
- 1 ¼ ounces grated provolone cheese
- 1 ¼ ounces grated Fontina cheese
- 🧀 1 ¼ ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese
Vegetables
- 🧄 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 🍅 ¼ cup julienned sun-dried tomatoes
Seasoning
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes (Optional)
- 1 tablespoon flour
- ¼ cup reserved pasta water

STEPS

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until penne start to get tender, about 8 minutes. Drain and reserve 1/4 cup pasta water.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Cook Italian sausage in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat until brown and crumbly, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate.

Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté minced garlic and red pepper flakes until garlic is fragrant, 30 to 45 seconds. Sprinkle flour over the mixture and stir to combine, making sure there are no lumps.

Pour in milk, cream, and reserved pasta water. Mix mozzarella, provolone, Fontina, and Parmesan cheeses in a bowl and stir in about 4/5th of the cheese mixture. Stir to combine.

Add penne, cooked Italian sausage, and julienned sun-dried tomatoes to the cheese sauce. Mix to combine and pour into an 8x8 inch casserole dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese mixture.

Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and lightly browned, about 25 minutes.

NUTRIENTS

Per 1 serving

🔥

603

Calories

25
Protein
40
Carbs
39
Fats

💡 Try using whole wheat or gluten-free pasta for a healthier alternative.Add spinach or kale for an extra nutritional boost.Half-and-half can be substituted for heavy whipping cream to lower the fat content.