Cheese’s Baked Macaroni and Cheese

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Description

I got this recipe from my sister, whom I nicknamed Cheese when we were little girls. Now that we’re adults, the name still sticks and my children call her Auntie Cheese. Needless to say, with a nickname like Cheese, her Baked Mac and Cheese is definitely the best around.

Ingredients

  • 1 (16 ounce) package fully cooked kielbasa sausage, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 (8 ounce) package elbow macaroni
  • ⅓ cup butter
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 (10 ounce) package sharp Cheddar cheese, cubed
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup dry bread crumbs, or more as needed

Instructions

  1. Cook and stir the cut-up kielbasa in a large skillet over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes
  2. until heated through and beginning to brown. Remove the sausage from the skillet
  3. and set aside.
  4. Fill a pan with lightly salted water
  5. bring to a boil over medium-high heat
  6. stir in the macaroni
  7. and return to a boil. Cook
  8. stirring occasionally
  9. until the pasta has cooked through but is still firm to the bite
  10. about 8 minutes. Drain well.
  11. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  12. Melt the butter in the skillet over medium-low heat
  13. and cook and stir the chopped onion for about 5 minutes
  14. until translucent. Whisk in the flour
  15. stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Cook and stir the butter
  16. onion and flour for 2 to 3 minutes to make a roux
  17. and remove from the heat. Whisk in the milk a little at a time
  18. stirring constantly
  19. until all the milk has been incorporated
  20. and return to low heat. Bring the sauce to a simmer
  21. and cook over low heat for about 2 minutes
  22. stirring constantly
  23. to finish cooking the flour. Whisk in the Cheddar cheese
  24. a few cubes at a time
  25. until all the cheese has been incorporated and the sauce is hot and smooth.
  26. Pour the macaroni into the cheese sauce
  27. and stir to combine. Stir in the cooked kielbasa
  28. salt
  29. and pepper.
  30. Spoon the macaroni mixture into the prepared baking dish
  31. and sprinkle the bread crumbs over the top. Bake for about 20 minutes in the preheated oven
  32. until the crumbs are brown and the casserole is bubbling. Let stand for 15 minutes after baking
  33. to set before serving.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 45 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins

Servings: 8

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