Skillet Sausage & Peppers Mac and Cheese is a rich, creamy, and satisfying comfort food recipe made with ground pork sausage, diced red and yellow peppers, tender pasta, Colby Jack cheese, and sharp Cheddar cheese. It is hearty enough to serve as a main course, but it also works well as a flavorful side dish for family dinners, gatherings, or casual weeknight meals.
Ground Sausage Mac and Cheese
This sausage mac and cheese recipe gives classic macaroni and cheese a bold, savory twist. Instead of using only pasta and cheese sauce, this version adds browned ground sausage and sweet bell peppers for extra flavor, texture, and color. The sausage brings a seasoned, meaty richness to the dish, while the peppers add a mild sweetness that balances the creamy cheese sauce.
One of the best parts of this skillet mac and cheese is the way the ingredients build flavor in the same pan. After the ground sausage is cooked, the peppers are sautéed in the flavorful sausage drippings. This simple step helps carry the sausage flavor throughout the entire dish without adding unnecessary ingredients. The result is a creamy baked mac and cheese that tastes full, comforting, and well seasoned.
Macaroni and Cheese
For this recipe, sturdy pasta shapes such as Cellentani, Cavatappi, or macaroni work especially well. These types of noodles hold onto the cheese sauce nicely and keep their shape after being mixed with sausage, peppers, and sauce. Their curves and ridges make every bite creamy and flavorful.
When making homemade mac and cheese, the pasta should be cooked according to the package directions and then drained before combining it with the other ingredients. Avoid overcooking the pasta, since it will also bake briefly in the oven once the cheese sauce has been added. A firm pasta texture helps the finished sausage and peppers mac and cheese stay creamy instead of becoming too soft.
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Main or Side Dish
This skillet sausage and peppers mac and cheese can be served in more than one way. As a main dish, it is filling, cheesy, and packed with sausage, making it a satisfying meal on its own. As a side dish, it pairs well with simple entrees and adds a comforting pasta option to the table. It is also a great choice when you want a baked macaroni and cheese recipe that feels a little more special than the traditional version.
To prepare the dish, start by thoroughly cooking the ground sausage in a large skillet. Once the sausage is browned and crumbled, remove it from the pan while reserving the flavorful fat left behind. The diced red and yellow peppers are then added to the skillet and sautéed for a few minutes until slightly softened. After cooking, the peppers are combined with the sausage and set aside while the cheese sauce is made.
Macaroni Cheese Sauce
The cheese sauce for this sausage mac and cheese is made with heavy cream, butter, Colby Jack cheese, and sharp Cheddar cheese. The heavy cream is warmed in the skillet until it reaches a gentle simmer. Cubed cheeses are then added and stirred until they melt into the cream. Butter is mixed in to create a smooth, rich sauce with a creamy texture.
Sharp Cheddar gives the sauce a stronger cheese flavor, while Colby Jack adds creaminess and a milder taste. Together, they create a balanced cheese sauce that coats the pasta beautifully. Once the sauce is smooth, it is poured over the cooked pasta, sausage, and peppers. Everything is stirred together until the noodles are evenly coated.
After mixing, the macaroni and cheese is transferred to an oven-safe skillet. If desired, additional shredded Cheddar cheese can be sprinkled over the top before baking. The dish is baked for about 10 minutes, just long enough for the cheese to melt and the flavors to come together. Serve it warm for the best creamy texture.
📖 Recipe
Skillet Sausage & Peppers Mac and Cheese
Dana
15 mins
20 mins
35 mins
Main Course
American
8 servings
541 kcal
Ingredients
- 16 oz Cellentani pasta – or macaroni pasta
- 12 oz ground pork sausage
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 oz sharp Cheddar cheese – cubed
- 8 oz Colby Jack cheese – cubed
- pinch salt
- 1 yellow pepper – diced
- 1 red pepper – diced
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350°F.
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Cook the pasta according to the package directions, then drain it and set it aside.
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In a large skillet, cook and crumble the ground sausage until fully cooked. Remove the sausage from the skillet and reserve the drippings.
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Dice the red and yellow peppers, then sauté them in the skillet for about 3 minutes.
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Remove the peppers from the skillet and add them to the cooked sausage.
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Add the heavy cream to the skillet and heat it until it begins to simmer.
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Add the cubed sharp Cheddar, cubed Colby Jack, and butter. Stir until the cheese melts.
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Continue cooking and stirring until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
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Pour the cheese sauce over the cooked pasta, sausage, and peppers. Stir well to combine.
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Spread the mixture into an oven-safe skillet and top with additional shredded cheese, if desired.
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Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the mac and cheese is heated through.
Nutrition
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Calories: 541 kcal
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Carbohydrates: 4 g
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Protein: 21 g
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Fat: 49 g
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Saturated Fat: 27 g
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Cholesterol: 142 mg
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Sodium: 704 mg
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Potassium: 257 mg
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Sugar: 2 g
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary depending on ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
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