Heat up your Christmas dinner menu with this baked mac and cheese. No need to choose between a spiced-up pasta and a luscious casserole recipe—you can enjoy them both with this Spicy Mac and Cheese! But don't wait for the holidays to enjoy this satisfying meal—you can make it any time of the year, and it will get rave reviews.
Spicy Mac and Cheese Recipe Tips
Not a fan of pork? Try this with Spicy Mac and Cheese Casserole with Italian turkey sausage instead, available in your grocery store's meat section. For a meal that still packs a flavor punch but without so much kick, pick up a mild green salsa and go with sweet sausage instead of spicy.
Ingredients
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12 ounce dried mostaccioli or rigatoni pasta (3 cups)
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1 pound bulk pork sausage
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1 cup chopped onion
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1 (16 ounce jar) green medium-hot salsa
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2 (8 ounce package) shredded Monterey Jack cheese (4 cups)
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Tomato wedges, sliced jalapeño peppers, and chopped fresh cilantro
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Salsa (optional)
Directions
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Prepare Casserole and Boil Pasta
Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease 3-quart rectangular baking dish; set aside. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; set aside.
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Cook and Drain Sausage
Meanwhile, in large skillet cook sausage and onion until meat is browned and onion is tender. Drain fat. Return sausage and onion to skillet. Stir in green salsa.
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Bake and Serve
In the prepared baking dish, layer half of the cooked pasta, half the sausage mixture, and half the cheese. Repeat layers. Bake, uncovered, for 35 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes. Top with tomato, jalapeño, and cilantro. If desired, serve with additional salsa. Makes 12 servings.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 378 | Calories |
| 22g | Fat |
| 25g | Carbs |
| 19g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 12 | |
| Calories 378 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 22g | 28% |
| Saturated Fat 11g | 55% |
| Cholesterol 61mg | 20% |
| Sodium 474mg | 21% |
| Total Carbohydrate 25g | 9% |
| Total Sugars 4g | |
| Protein 19g | 38% |
| Vitamin C 3.5mg | 4% |
| Calcium 302.9mg | 23% |
| Iron 2mg | 11% |
| Potassium 168mg | 4% |
| Folate, total 72.6mcg | |
| Vitamin B-12 0.7mcg | |
| Vitamin B-6 0.2mg | |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.