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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!
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!
Smoked Sausage Mac and Cheese
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
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.
- Sprinkle cheese in bit by bit until it’s all incorporated into one smooth cheesy sauce.
- Stir in cooked pasta and turkey sausage. Warm it all through 2-3 minutes before serving. Serve hot.
Love this easy-to-make recipe! It is a staple in my house!!
[…] mac and cheese recipe, by the way, is from one of my favorite food bloggers, Lauren’s Latest – she has a ton of delicious recipes on her website that don’t cause me a stress attack […]
Can cow milk be swapped out for almond milk?
Here is a little variation to get the kids to eat spinach! While the pasta is cooking, slice the sausage in round and brown in a skillet. Add like 5-ish oz of fresh spinach to the sausage and wilt down. Once you put together the Mac and cheese stir in the sausage and spinach. My kiddos gobble it up because everything is cheesy!
Hi,
would it be possible to use corn starch instead of flour as I have to eat gluten free 🙂 Thanks!
This turned out great for dinner. So great, my toddler actually ate it, without a fuss!
Also the first time I’ve successfully made a roux. Your directions and proportions were just right.
Thanks for another great recipe!
Switch the turkey sausage out for lean ground beef and add some chili spice for chili cheese Mac n cheese? I’ll have to try that.
made this for my kids on Monday (adults were going to a potluck). It was very well received even by Picky Son! I did halve the recipe – what made me sad about that was that there was none left by the time we got home! Definitely a winner.
WOW- This looks so delicious, especially with the colder weather in fall. And that’s too funny what your hubby said, mine always says the SAME THING about mac n cheese and hotdogs!
Man does mac and cheese sound good right now. Thanks for the recipe. Keep it up.
Thank you for this simple recipe! I made it right away! It’s perfect for me bc I live in Japan and can’t buy the boxed stuff anyway! Now I know the real version is just as easy to make!
This is even more fabulous if you brown the sausage while the Mac & cheese is cooking. It carmelizes and becomes even more amazing!
this looks so good! I have definitely succumbed to the powdered cheese (at least the Annie’s version is maybe not horrible? It probably is…). I like your idea to add some turkey sausage for some added smokey flavor and depth!
Growing up, we would frequently have Kraft Mac & Cheese with cut up hotdogs for dinner… I haven’t eaten boxed mac & cheese in years, but I have to admit there’s something comforting just thinking about it… Your homemade version with turkey sausage looks amazing and I know my family would love it!
My husband would love this for dinner! Still one of his favourite meals. 😀
My boys would love this, Lauren, especially with the sausage!
This looks SO comforting and delicious, Lauren! And I love the pic of you and your daughter. Such pretty girls!