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I love a good Mac and Cheese. This gourmet Italian Style Mac and Cheese recipe is super easy to make.
Unlike some of the other Mac & Cheese recipes I have posted like my 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.
💭 Ingredient Substitution
I decided to make this recipe with tri-color penne pasta but you can easily substitute it for your favorite pasta noodles.
Don’t like spicy sausage? Try a milder sausage, ground turkey, ground beef or even chicken!
If your local grocery store doesn't carry Italian Blend Cheese you can always substitute for another good white melting cheese.
💭 What is Al Dente
When making Mac and Cheese, it's important to cook the pasta al dente to ensure the 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.
📋 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 the pasta al dente according to the directions on the package. Drain pasta and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the flour and Italian seasoning and whisk for about 2 minutes.
- Add the milk and continue to whisk occasionally, allowing the mixture to thicken. Add both cheeses and whisk until fully combined.
- Fold in the cooked ground Italian sausage into the cheese mixture.
- Pour the cheese mixture over the strained pasta and stir to combine. The sauce will thicken as it sits.
For more great recipes with Italian Blend Cheese, I suggest you check these recipes out:
📖 Recipe
Italian Style Mac and Cheese
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 lb Pasta, your choice
- 4 tablespoon Unsalted Butter
- ¼ Cup All Purpose Flour
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 2 Cups Milk
- 8 oz Italian Blend Cheese, shredded
- ⅓ Cup Parmesan Cheese, grated
- 1 lb Italian Sausage, cooked & ground
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook the pasta al dente according to the directions on the package. Drain pasta and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the flour and Italian seasoning and whisk for about 2 minutes.
- Add the milk and continue to whisk occasionally, allowing the mixture to thicken. Add both cheeses and whisk until fully combined.
- Fold in the cooked ground italian sausage into the cheese mixture.
- Pour the cheese mixture over the strained pasta and stir to combine. Sauce will thicken as it sits.
Nutrition
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.
Kristen
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.