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Browned sausage and sliced tomatoes help to make this creamy, delicious macaroni and cheese a hearty main dish. The flavorful casserole is made with pork sausage, chopped vegetables, and a homemade cheese sauce. It's topped with a buttered breadcrumb topping and baked to perfection.
Serve this macaroni and cheese bake with biscuits or fresh sliced bread for a fabulous everyday meal.
Ingredients
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8 ounces macaroni, or ditalini
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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1 pound bulk pork sausage, spicy or Italian style
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1 sweet bell pepper, green or a combination of colors, chopped
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1 medium onion, chopped
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1 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning blend
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1 dash red pepper flakes, optional
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1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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1 clove garlic, minced
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2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
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2 cups whole milk
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2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
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1 cup (4 ounces) American cheese, cut in cubes or shredded
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Salt, to taste
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8 ounces grape tomatoes, halved or quartered lengthwise
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1/2 cup fine soft breadcrumbs
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1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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Cook the macaroni in boiling salted water following package directions. Drain and then set aside.
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Heat the oven to 350 F.
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Grease a 2 1/2- to 3-quart casserole.
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Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan or sauté pan over medium heat. Crumble the sausage and add it to the pan along with the bell pepper and onion; cook, stirring and breaking up sausage, until sausage is no longer pink and vegetables are tender. Spoon off any excess grease and add the seasoning, pepper flakes, black pepper, and garlic.
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Add the flour to the sausage mixture and cook for about 2 minutes longer, stirring constantly. Gradually stir in the milk. Continue cooking until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in the cheeses and add salt, to taste.
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Fold the macaroni and tomatoes into the sausage and sauce mixture. Spoon into the prepared casserole.
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Combine the breadcrumbs with melted butter and sprinkle over the casserole.
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Bake the for 25 minutes.
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Increase heat to 400 F and bake for 5 to 10 minutes longer, until crumb topping is lightly browned.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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672 | Calories |
46g | Fat |
32g | Carbs |
33g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 6 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 672 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 46g | 58% |
Saturated Fat 20g | 99% |
Cholesterol 130mg | 43% |
Sodium 1503mg | 65% |
Total Carbohydrate 32g | 12% |
Dietary Fiber 2g | 8% |
Total Sugars 9g | |
Protein 33g | |
Vitamin C 33mg | 167% |
Calcium 657mg | 51% |
Iron 3mg | 14% |
Potassium 647mg | 14% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
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