The. Best. Mac. And. Cheese. Ever.

Happy Saturday morning, y'all!

I posted a photo last night as part of my 365 days of happy project of the ingredients for a homemade mac and cheese recipe I found from Southern Living.  (PS- THANK GOD for Southern Living to keep my love handles happy!)

Anyway, Southern Living calls the recipe "Gussied Up Mac 'n' Cheese" I called it "Heaven aka Diabetes in a Bowl."

Here are the ingredients:

1 (16-oz.) package cavatappi pasta- (I used large elbow pasta)   

1 tablespoon salt

1/2 pound andouille sausage, casings removed- (I used 1 pound)   

4 cups heavy cream

1 (16-oz.) package pasteurized prepared cheese product, cut into 1-inch cubes

2 cups (8 oz.) freshly shredded smoked Cheddar cheese- (I used the shredded Fiesta blend cheese)   

1/2 cup freshly shredded aged Gouda cheese

1/2 cup freshly shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1 (5-oz.) package unsalted kettle-cooked potato chips, crumbled

 

First off, preheat your oven to 375 degrees and start cooking your pasta according to the directions.

Cut the sausage lengthwise into quarters.  I forgot to cut into quarters and did full pieces, oops!  Still tasted delicious though!  The pieces should be about 1/4-inch thick.  Put these pieces into your pan and cook until they are brown on the edges- shown below.

 

Pour the 4 cups of heavy cream into a large pan and let that simmer.  Once the cream is warm add your cheese cubs and stir them in until they have all melted then add the rest of your cheeses.  Don't forget to taste test the cheese mixture as you go- VERY IMPORTANT! :-)

Once the cheese mixture is nice and melted, add the sausage to the cheese.

 

Once you've drained your pasta from the large pot, put the pasta back in the pot and pour in the cheese and sausage mixture.  Carefully mix all that goodness together.

 

Spray a 9x13 pan with Pam and then pour your mixture into the pan- shown below.

BEST PART- crush some kettle cooked potato chips up and sprinkle it on top of your pasta dish- shown below.

Pop that bad boy into the oven for 20-25 minutes then let it sit for another 5 minutes and voila, dinner is served!

 

Oh, and it's best served with a nice bottle of red wine.  I had a bottle of Columbia Crest H3 Red Blend at the house, and it was GREAT paired with this cheesy goodness!

Here are step by step instructions via Southern Living:

 

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Prepare pasta according to package directions for al dente, adding salt to water.
2. Meanwhile, cut sausage lengthwise into quarters. Cut each quarter into 1/4-inch-thick pieces.
3. Sauté sausage in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat 3 minutes or until browned around edges; drain on paper towels.
4. Bring cream to a simmer in Dutch oven over medium-high heat; reduce heat to low, and stir in cheese product. Cook, stirring constantly, until cheese is melted. Stir in sausage and remaining cheeses; cook, stirring constantly, until cheeses are melted. Remove from heat; stir in hot cooked pasta.
5. Pour mixture into a buttered 3-qt. baking dish or 12 (8-oz.) ramekins; top with potato chips. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until bubbly and browned. Remove from oven, and let stand 5 minutes.

Hope y'all enjoy this recipe and try making it at home yourself!

 

Cheers!

Lynn