Italian Mac-n-Cheese

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

Show: 30 Minute MealsEpisode: Downsized Dining

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (228)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(228)

Cook Time:
20 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 servings, plus leftovers

Times:

Prep: 10 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 20 min
Total:: 30 min

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Ingredients

1 pound ziti rigate, penne rigate or cavatappi (ribbed, hollow corkscrews)
1 pound Italian bulk sweet sausage
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
3 or 4 cloves garlic, chopped
12 crimini mushrooms, sliced
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup heavy cream
1 (10-ounce) sack, 2 1/2 cups, shredded Italian 4 cheese blend, available on dairy aisle
1 can diced tomatoes, drained well
1 teaspoon hot sauce (recommended: Tabasco), optional
1/2 cup Parmesan, a couple of handfuls

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt water and cook pasta to a chewy al dente, about 8 minutes.

In a nonstick skillet, brown and crumble the sausage. Drain cooked crumbles on paper towel lined plate. Return pan to heat and add extra-virgin olive oil, butter, garlic and mushrooms. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Saute 3 to 5 minutes, until mushrooms are lightly golden.

Preheat broiler to high.

To mushrooms, add flour and stir, cooking 2 minutes. Whisk in stock, then stir in cream. Bring cream to a bubble, then stir in 2 cups of 4 cheese blend. When cheese has melted into sauce, add tomatoes. When sauce comes to a bubble, remove from heat and adjust seasonings, adding hot sauce if desired.

Combine cheese sauce with sausage and pasta, transfer to baking dish, casserole or oven safe serving platter. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of 4 cheese blend and the grated Parmesan over the top and brown under hot broiler.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Italian Mac-n-Cheese
Brie San Diego, CA 09-30-2009
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Great, easy recipe!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I used whole wheat pasta and sweet turkey sausage... We loved it! Classic recipe to make over and over.. Reheats perfectly... too.Read more
recipe Italian Mac-n-Cheese
Nicole Chico, CA 09-16-2009
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AMAZING
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

i'm a college student, and i make this meal almost every week! all my friends LOVE it and ask for it constantly! i DEFINITELY... recommend!!!Read more
recipe Italian Mac-n-Cheese
Tamera Elk Ridge, UT 07-08-2009
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I knew I still loved mac-n-cheese
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Followed recipe to a tee, I could see variations on this! Everyone gobbled it up and had seconds, or thirds! This does make... alot...there are 7 of us and I still have a good portion leftover (nothing wrong with that!) It took me over 30 minutes to prepare but well worth it! YUM!Read more
recipe Italian Mac-n-Cheese
Sarah Lower Gwynedd, PA 06-22-2009
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Mmmm...comfort
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

This is definitely a winner in my house. With my brother and my dad the two of them loving sweet Italian sausage they were... both thrilled when they saw what was on their plate. My mom enjoyed it as well, being the full Italian in the house! Alright onto preparation: I used 1% milk as someone had suggested mainly because I already had it and did not want to buy heavy cream just for this. I substituted frozen chopped spinach for the mushroom which I microwaved before I put it in when the recipe normally calls for mushrooms. My dad said that the green color of the spinach was a great idea because it contributed to the Italian-ness of the dish, because it completed the Italian colors. Red- tomatoes, Green- spinach, and White - pasta and cheese. Next time I may try to do the broiler (since this is not the last time I will be making this for my family) but this time I did what one reviewer had suggested and bake it at 400 degrees for about 20 mins. Probably could have done a little less temp or degree of heat. Overall this was a fantastic recipe, messy, but exceptionally delicious! Definitely a comfort food! Thanks Rachael!Read more
recipe Italian Mac-n-Cheese
Michelle Delta, BC 06-07-2009
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Love this mac n cheese recipe!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I used a bit of bacon and fried with sausage and then instead of buying a sack of pre shredded cheese, in order to be more... sustainable, just shredded some monterey, cheddar and threw in some velveeta...wow!! Low sodium stock and it was fanastic...still some leftover for tomorrow!!Read more
recipe Italian Mac-n-Cheese
Yolanda Midway City, CA 04-27-2009
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Yummo
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This was the first time I made mac and cheese with out using the box brand. It was awsome. Easy to follow receipe.