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How to Make Italian Mac and Cheese - A Step-by-Step Guide

Who doesn't love a good, comforting bowl of mac and cheese? And when you add in the flavors of Italy, you know it's going to be even better. This Italian Mac and Cheese recipe is a delicious twist on the classic comfort food, adding in the rich and savory flavors of Italian cuisine to create a truly indulgent dish.

Instead of just using cheddar cheese like in traditional mac and cheese, this recipe calls for a blend of Italian cheeses such as mozzarella, Parmesan, and Fontina, giving t...

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Ingredients

  • 8 ounces penne pasta
  • 10 ounces Italian sausage
  • 1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes (Optional)
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1 cup 1% milk
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • ¼ cup reserved pasta water
  • 1 ¼ ounces grated mozzarella cheese
  • 1 ¼ ounces grated provolone cheese
  • 1 ¼ ounces grated Fontina cheese
  • 1 ¼ ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup julienned sun-dried tomatoes

Information

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 35 mins
  • Total Time: 45 mins
  • Servings: 5

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until penne start to get tender, about 8 minutes. Drain and reserve 1/4 cup pasta water.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  • Meanwhile, cook Italian sausage in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat until brown and crumbly, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate.
  • Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté minced garlic and red pepper flakes until garlic is fragrant, 30 to 45 seconds. Sprinkle flour over mixture and stir to combine, making sure there are no lumps.
  • Pour in milk, cream, and reserved pasta water. Mix mozzarella, provolone, Fontina, and Parmesan cheeses in a bowl and stir in about 4/5th of the cheese mixture. Stir to combine. Add penne, cooked Italian sausage, and julienned sun dried tomatoes to the cheese sauce. Mix to combine and pour into an 8x8 inch casserole dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese mixture.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and lightly browned, about 25 minutes.

    • Nutrition

    603 cal.

    • Total Fat: 39g
    • Saturated Fat: 19g
    • Cholesterol: 111mg
    • Sodium: 771mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 40g
    • Dietary Fiber: 2g
    • Protein: 25g
    • Potassium: 446mg

    Categories

    Baked recipes
    Creamy recipes
    Classic recipes
    Spicy recipes
    Vegetarian recipes