Spicy Sausage and Pasta Casserole

This dish is very easy to make and really quite tasty. It's basically mac-and-cheese kicked up to make a main dish.


Next time, I might sneak some jalapeños into it.

Makes: 6 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

• 8 oz mini penne pasta
• 1/2 medium green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1/2 medium red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1/2 medium white onion, chopped
• 1 lb smoked sausage, cut into 1/4" rounds
• 2 T butter
• 2 T all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 t (or more) Creole seasoning
• 3/4 cup unseasoned bread crumbs

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.

2. Preheat oven to 350 F.

3. Cook the sausage, peppers and onion in a large skillet until the onions start to soften. Remove from skillet.

4. Melt butter in skillet. Whisk in the flour until well blended.

5. Slowly add the milk to the skillet, whisking in with the flour and butter mixture. Add the Creole seasoning and mix. Continue cooking and stirring until the mixture begins to thicken.

6. Add the cheese and stir until melted. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

7. Add the pasta and sausage and vegetables to the skillet and mix well. Transfer to a 8" x 8" casserole that has been sprayed with non-stick spray.

8. Sprinkle bread crumbs over casserole and bake for 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown.