Macaroni, Chicken Apple Sausage & Cheese
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Make a family-pleasing one-dish meal by adding a healthy chicken apple sausage to this ultimate comfort food.
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients
  • 16 oz Elbow pasta
  • ½ cup Unsalted butter
  • ½ cup All-purpose Flour
  • 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic, minced
  • Salt and Pepper To Taste
  • 5 cup Milk, whole or 2%
  • 4 cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Topping
  • 15 Ritz Crackers, crushed
  • 5 aidells Chicken Apple Sausage, sliced thin
  • Butter to Saute' Sausage
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Thinly slice chicken sausage and saute' in small amount of butter.

  3. Cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
  4. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour, then add the onion powder, garlic, salt and pepper. Gradually whisk in the milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and the mixture begins to bubble slightly. Add the cheese and stir until the cheese melts.
  5. Add the cooked pasta and nicely browned sausage. Pour the mixture into a slightly greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Mix together the crushed Ritz crackers and the melted butter until add the crumbs are moistened, then sprinkle over the top of the pasta mixture. (Pulsing on and off in a food processor will crush your crackers nicely and then it is easy to add the butter too!)
  6. Bake for 30 minutes, until golden and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes and serve,
Notes
aidells sausage is low in fat as well as loaded with flavor.

Saltine crackers can be substituted for the Ritz crackers.

Pepperjack, Monterey Jack, Mexican Mix or any of your favorite cheeses can be substituted for some of the cheddar cheese.

 
Recipe by Pray Cook Blog at https://praycookblog.com/macaroni-and-cheese-the-ultimate-comfort-food/