Ultimate Creole Mac and Cheese Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package elbow macaroni
• 1 cup andouille sausage, diced
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 0.75 cup bread crumbs
• 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 0.5 teaspoon paprika
• 0.5 teaspoon prepared mustard
• 1.5 cups milk
• 1 cup grated Gruyere cheese
• 1.5 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• kosher salt to taste
• black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Cook the macaroni in a large pot of boiling, salted water until al dente. Drain well.
2. In a small pan, cook the andouille sausage over medium heat until fully cooked. Set aside. In the same pan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add bread crumbs and stir to coat evenly. Let cool, then mix in the Parmesan cheese. Set aside for topping.
3. In a medium saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Sauté the onions and celery until they become translucent. Transfer the sautéed vegetables to a bowl and set aside.
4. In the same saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour to create a white roux. Be careful not to brown the roux; it should remain white. Mix in the paprika and mustard, then gradually stir in the milk. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then add the Gruyere and Cheddar cheeses. Simmer, stirring frequently, until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to your liking.
5. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan, or a similar-sized casserole dish, with butter. Transfer the cooked macaroni to the prepared dish, and toss in the cooked andouille sausage and sautéed vegetables. Stir in the cheese sauce, ensuring everything is well combined. Sprinkle the breadcrumb and Parmesan mixture evenly over the top of the macaroni and cheese.
6. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the topping turns a beautiful golden brown and the macaroni and cheese is bubbly.

Nutrition

• Calories: 481 kcal
• Fat Content: 29 g
• Fiber Content: 2 g
• Sugar Content: 5 g
• Sodium Content: 656 mg
• Protein Content: 22 g
• Cholesterol Content: 77 mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 34 g
• Saturated Fat Content: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat Content: 0 g