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    Home » Gourmet Mac & Cheese

    Italian Style Mac and Cheese

    Published on September 20, 2017 - Updated on May 5, 2023 by Chef Rodney - 1 Comment - This post may contain affiliate links.

    21 shares
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    This Italian Style Mac & Cheese comes with a kick thanks to the spicy Italian sausage. You can dial it down by using a less spicy sausage.
     
    Italian Style Mac & Cheese

    I love a good Mac & Cheese. This gourmet Italian Style Mac and Cheese recipe is super easy to make.

    Italian Style Mac & Cheese

    Unlike some of the other Mac & Cheese recipes I have posted before (Bacon Jalapeño Mac & Cheese, Blue Cheese Bacon Mac & Cheese or Kim Kardashian’s Mac & Cheese ), this one is quick to make and does not require any baking time.

    italian style cheese

    I decided to make mine with tri-color penne pasta but you can easily substitute for your favorite pasta noodles. Don’t like spicy sausage? Try a milder sausage, ground turkey, ground beef or even chicken!

    💭 What is Al Dente

    When making Mac and Cheese, it's important to cook the pasta al dente to ensure to best texture possible. If you are not familiar with the term "al dente", it means cooking the pasta so it's still chewy and form and that it will hold its shape when the sauce is added to it.

    For more great recipes with Penne Pasta, I suggest you check these recipes out:

    • penne meatball casserole
      Penne Meatball Casserole
    • Copycat Applebee’s Three-Cheese Chicken Penne
      Copycat Applebee’s Three Cheese Chicken Penne
    • penne with vodka sauce
      Penne with Vodka Sauce
    • Pumpkin Penne Pasta
      Pumpkin Penne Pasta

    📋 Gather your Ingredients

    You will need the following ingredients to make this Italian Style Mac & Cheese recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Unsalted Butter, All Purpose Flour, Milk, Penne Pasta, Italian Blend Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Italian Seasoning and Italian Sausage.

    🥣 How to Make Italian Style Mac and Cheese

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
    Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain pasta and set aside.
    While pasta is cooking, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and Italian seasoning and whisk for about 2 minutes. Stir in milk and continue to whisk occasionally, allowing the mixture to thicken. Add cheeses and whisk until fully combined.
    Pour cheese sauce over strained pasta and stir to combine. The sauce will thicken as it sits.

    Italian Style Mac & Cheese

    Italian Style Mac and Cheese

    This Italian Style Mac & Cheese comes with a kick thanks to the spicy Italian sausage. You can dial it down by using a less spicy sausage.
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 5
    Calories 991 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 4 tablespoon Unsalted Butter
    • ¼ Cup All Purpose Flour
    • 2 Cups Milk
    • 1 lb Penne Pasta
    • 8 oz Italian Blend Cheese, Shredded
    • ⅓ Cup Parmesan Cheese, Grated
    • 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
    • 1 lb Italian Sausage

    Instructions
     

    • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
    • Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain pasta and set aside.
    • While pasta is cooking, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and Italian seasoning and whisk for about 2 minutes. Add milk and continue to whisk occasionally, allowing the mixture to thicken. Add cheeses and whisk until fully combined.
    • Pour cheese sauce over strained pasta and stir to combine. Sauce will thicken as it sits.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 991kcalCarbohydrates: 80gProtein: 42gFat: 55gSaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 118mgSodium: 980mgPotassium: 581mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 515IUVitamin C: 1.8mgCalcium: 329mgIron: 3mg

    Nutritional information provided for this recipe is based on 1 serving. This information is an estimate and may vary based on several factors. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with a Registered Dietitian.

    Tried this Recipe?Leave a Comment below and share a picture on Instagram and tag @hot_rods_recipes and hashtag #hotrodsrecipes!

    More Gourmet Mac & Cheese Recipes

    • smoked mac and cheese
      Easy Smoked Mac and Cheese
    • Baked Gouda Mac and Cheese
      Baked Gouda Mac and Cheese
    • Gnocchi Mac and Cheese
      Gnocchi Mac and Cheese
    • Copycat Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese
      Copycat Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese
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    Reader Interactions

    1 Comment

    1. Kristen

      October 25, 2022 at 5:10 pm

      This recipe is to die for. So delicious and was a great hit with the family. I used the tri-color pasta which did not alter the taste, but gave it a different look. Will add this recipe to my recipe box.

      Reply

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