I love a good Mac & 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 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.
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:
📋 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 and Cheese
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
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.