Macaroni and Cheese with Sausage and Pears |
|
 |
Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 50 Minutes |
Ready In: 65 Minutes Servings: 8 |
|
I developed this recipe from a basic mac-n-cheese recipe, adding pears which go well with the sharp Cheddar. For the sausage, we like Aidell's® Chicken and Apple or Roasted Garlic Gruyere sausages. They are fully cooked and very flavorful! To use as a side dish, leave out the sausage. Ingredients:
cooking spray |
1 (8 ounce) package elbow macaroni |
1/4 cup butter |
1/4 onion, chopped |
2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, or as needed |
3 cups milk |
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese |
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese |
ground black pepper to taste |
1 (12 ounce) package fully-cooked sausage, sliced |
1 pear - peeled, cored, and sliced |
2 tablespoons butter, melted |
1/2 cup bread crumbs |
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 3-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain macaroni and transfer to the prepared casserole dish.
3. Heat butter in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir onions in the melted butter until partially translucent, about 5 minutes. Whisk in flour until paste-like consistency, 3 to 5 minutes. Slowly stream in milk, stirring constantly, until flour mixture is incorporated, about 5 minutes. Stir in Cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese until completely melted and and sauce has thickened, 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Pour cheese sauce into macaroni; stir to coat. Season with black pepper. Stir in sausage.
5. Reserve 4 slices of pears; dice remaining pear slices and stir into macaroni mixture. Arrange the reserved slices atop macaroni mixture.
6. Stir 2 tablespoons melted butter and bread crumbs together in a small bowl; sprinkle over macaroni mixture.
7. Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is bubbling and topping is lightly browned, about 30 minutes.
|
|