Creamy Kielbasa Mac and Cheese - Butter & Baggage (2024)

With its velvety smooth cheese sauce and that signature salty, smoky flavor from the Kielbasa, this oven baked casserole is the grown-up version of classic mac and cheese with hot dogs.Smoked sausage pasta is so much better!

The Creamiest Smoked Sausage Pasta

This is one of those easy meals that looks a lot more impressive than it is, but you don’t have to tell anyone that! Rake in those compliments as they pile up their plates. With just 30 minutes of prep time and 8 servings per casserole, this sausage macaroni is perfect for potlucks, holiday dinners, or having in the freezer for when you don’t want to bother making dinner from scratch tonight.

Heartier than old fashioned mac and cheese with a bechamel sauce that makes it thick and creamy like pimento mac and cheese. There can never be enough mac and cheese recipes, it’s the ultimate comfort food.

I love pairing creamy sauces with something unexpected hence my sliced kielbasa mac and cheese! The smoke and salt cut through the decadent cheese sauce for a savory bite of pure comfort. Top it with chopped green onion, a little hot pepper sauce, and some extra sprinkles of shredded cheese before serving, and watch the whole family fall in love. This will become one of those back-pocket pasta recipes you can pull out anytime.

It’s more of a meal than bacon ranch mac and cheese, the sausage and bacon add so much flavor to both of these mac and cheese dishes. If your a fan of Buffalo wings, get all that flavor in a Buffalo chicken mac recipe.

Rich and hearty, this smoked sausage casserole is the star of the table, but it needs a few friends to turn it into a full-fledged meal. Try pairing it with roasted asparagus or glazed carrots and serve alongside a fresh and light broccoli salad to balance out the rest of the flavors.

If you ever had boxed mac and cheese with hot dogs slices, then you’ll relate to this pasta bake. I think it was a staple in the 70’s, and what’s not to love. However, this dish is about 100xs better and may be your new favorite comfort food recipe.

What is Kielbasa?

Kielbasa is the Polish word for sausage, so you’ll often hear it used interchangeably with “Polish Sausage” at the grocery store or your local deli. It’s a smoked sausage that can be eaten hot, cold, boiled, grilled—any way you can think of making it! It has a distinctive smoky, salty, and herby flavor depending on the sausage-making process and is an excellent addition to omelets, sandwiches, and of course, pasta.

Why You’ll Love This Smoked Sausage Mac

• Protein Packed – Thanks to the different cheeses and Kielbasa sausage, one bowl of this creamy mac will keep you full while tasting delicious.
• Extra Pop of Flavor – Life doesn’t get much better than homemade mac and cheese, but the smoky flavor of kielbasa infuses this classic with a more nuanced flavor that feels a lot more adult than the boxed stuff.
• Ultimate Comfort Food – Hot, rich, and creamy, this is one of those warm dishes that makes you feel good with every bite. Perfect for when you’re feeling nostalgic or when you want to warm up on a chilly day.
• Base Recipe – Mac and cheese is one of those recipes you can customize to fit your needs, feel free to add in other veggies, meats, and cheese as you see fit.

Ingredients For Smoked Sausage Casserole

• Pasta – I recommend elbows, shells, or other smaller fun shapes for this pasta bake.You want something to hold the creamy sauce.
  
• Smoked Sausage – My go-to is Smoked Kielbasa, it’s a classic.Don’t confuse this with Italian sausage, which is wonderful but is not the same as kielbasa and won’t work in this recipe.
  
• Onion – Go with a yellow or white onion for this recipe.
  
• Butter – A couple of pats of butter make all the difference
  
• Flour – For the roux!
  
• Spices – Dry mustard, salt, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce are key to this recipe!
  
• Whole Milk – Grab two cups, we need a lot more than just a splash of milk.
  
• Half-and-Half – A little milk and a little cream, it’s the best of both worlds. I love using half-and-half in cheesy sauces for extra depth and density.
  
• Cheddar Cheese – I used sharp white cheddar for this recipe, but you should play around with your favorite! Try extra sharp cheddar, Gruyère, Gouda, or anything else that catches your eye at the cheese counter.

How To Make Smoked Sausage Mac and Cheese

Step One: Prep.

Preheat oven to 375º.

Step Two: Boil Pasta.

Bring salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente. Drain and return to the pot.

Step Three: Cook Sausage.

Slice sausage into ½-inch slices and add to a large skillet with onions over medium heat. Cook until the sausages are browned and the onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Remove to a plate.

Step Four: Make Roux.

In a small bowl, warm milk and cream in the microwave. In the same skillet as you browned the sausge, melt butter over medium-high heat. Whisk in flour, dry mustard, and salt and pepper. Cook for about a minute. Gradually add the warm milk mixture, whisking until it slightly thickens and coats the back of a spoon. The roux should just cling to the spoon, it will not be overly thick.

See Also

Classic Kielbasa and Sauerkraut (One-Pan Meal)One Dish Baked Sauerkraut and Sausage - Keto Cooking WinsSheet Pan Baked Kielbasa and Sauerkraut RecipeRoasted Potatoes and Kielbasa

Step Five: Fold In The Cheese.

Remove skillet from heat and add Worcestershire sauce and all but one cup of the shredded cheese, whisking until smooth. Pour the sauce over the pasta and mix to coat.

Stir in the sausages and onions.

Step Six: Bake.

Pour into a prepared baking dish and bake for 18-20 minutes until the cheese has melted and is bubbly and golden brown on the sides.

Why is my sauce grainy?

The dreaded grainy cheese sauce! This happens to the best of us and can be easily avoided. When making your roux, cook the flour for at least a minute before adding any liquid. Then warm the milk and half-and-half in the microwave before adding to the roux so that it’s not cold when added.

By keeping all the ingredients around the same temperature, there’s less chance of a shock happening when cold ingredients hit the hot pan. Make sure to add the warm liquid slowly while whisking the entire time.And finally don’t use pre-shredded cheese. The preservatives keep it from melting as well as a block of cheese.

How to Store Leftovers

In The Fridge: Allow the casserole to cool completely and store in an airtight container for up to three days.

In The Freezer: ​After the casserole cools completely, you can transfer it to an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze it for up to three months. For extra ease, you can portion them individually for easy after-school meals or quick lunches.

See Also

How to Cook Fresh Kielbasa at Home (Updated 2024)

Pro Tip: My favorite way to store leftovers for longer periods is to first freeze them in Souper Cubes and then pop out the squares and vacuum seal it.

Tips For The Best Mac and Cheese

• For a truly luxe and super creamy mac, you should always shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheeses are a time saver for those busy weeknights and absolutely work in cheese sauces, but you’ll get a much richer flavor and fewer preservatives leading to a much creamier texture when you shred your own. Plus you can make a unique cheese blend that perfectly compliments your dish!
  
• Never skip the roux. An extra 3-5 minutes of prep time will take your cheese sauce from great to spectacular. By making a roux, all the sauce ingredients bind together resulting in a cohesive and creamy base.
  
• ​Baking your pasta? Follow the package directions until just under al dente, this will keep the pasta from overcooking when in the oven.

More Mac and Cheese Recipes to Try

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