Skillet Mac and Cheese with Kielbasa is super easy comforting pasta dish to make and seriously cheesy. The wonderful flavor of the Polish Kielbasa and cheese takes ordinary weeknight dinner to a whole new level of deliciousness.
I don’t know about you but this fall is a busy time for our family. We have Decorations going up, get-togethers at our friend’s homes, Halloween parties and the list continues. I like to have a few easy-button dinners up my sleeve like this Skillet Mac and Cheese with Kielbasa for crazy nights that we have little to no time.
This recipe today is really just a makeover that I did to an old Macaroni and cheese recipe we used for years that you baked instead of just cooking on the stovetop in a skillet. Trust me it cuts the time by 1/4 and my house isn’t hot from an oven running. Those two things make my tiny heart pitter-patter.
I don’t have time to try to go nuts in the kitchen on busy nights. Have you ever been so busy you could just tear your hair out thinking of having to spend more than 35-45 minutes max in the kitchen? I have and it’s annoying to all hell and back.
Lately, my husband has been a little picky about dinner. He doesn’t want a lot of ingredients, just substance. So instead of getting annoyed, I have been pulling out old recipes and trying to revamp them so that I don’t have the annoying dinner dialogue I have grown to dislike immensely these days.
You know the one where they are bored, tired of, or the famous what’s this? Ugh, that damn what’s this as he slightly bends his head and smells what he is about to eat to see if it’s worth him pushing the for to his lips. Sigh. I don’t have time for it. lol!
Skillet Mac and Cheese with Kielbasa is surprisingly Husband approved, apparently, it’s a good hearty substance he enjoys. All his manly favorites, cheese, Kielbasa, and Penne pasta. Did I mention he will only eat this if I use Penne pasta or Pasta Shells? You know, the smaller ones? Maybe he likes how the cheese sticks to all the crevices I don’t know.
Ingredient List
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Polish Kielbasa or Smoked Sausage
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Water to boil pasta
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Uncooked pasta
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Evaporated Milk
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Rotel Tomatoes
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Cornstarch
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Colby-Jack Cheese
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Pepper Jack Cheese
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Unsalted butter
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Cajun seasoning
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Kosher Salt
- 1 pound Polish Kielbasa or Smoked Sausage 1/4 inch rounds
- 4 cups Water to boil
- 16 ounces Uncooked pasta Penne or Elbow
- 1-12- ounce Can of Evaporated milk
- 1-10- ounce Can of Rotel Tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons Corn Starch
- 3 cups Colby-Jack Cheese shredded
- 1 cup Pepper Jack Cheese
- 1 tablespoon Unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning
- Kosher Salt to own taste
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In a large 14-inch deep metal skillet, brown Polish Kielbasa sausage over medium heat for 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
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In the same skillet or another pot, bring the water to a boil. Add pasta, reduce heat, stir often until pasta is al dente, about 8-10 minutes. (Do not drain)
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In a small glass bowl, whisk cornstarch, milk, and Rotel tomatoes.
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Gradually add to the cooked penne pasta or macaroni pasta; cook and stir until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
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Remove from heat; add Colby-Jack cheese, Pepper Jack, and cooked Polish sausage, butter, and Cajun Seasoning
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Stir until cheeses have blended and melts.
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It’s always great to have go-to recipes that take little time to prepare and are enjoyed by the whole family! I definitely have a preference for smaller pasta shapes too haha.
Hi, Maria, yes it sure does make our lives so much easier in the long run.
This pasta dish is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner! Looks so hearty and delicious!
Good morning and Thank you, Taylor! Glad you stopped by. Thanks for the compliment.
This looks soooo delicious! I love comforting meals like this!
Hey there, Emily, the other thing I didn’t mention in the post and should is how low cost it is to make. Thanks for dropping by.
Perfect comfort food!! I love that you can make it all in one skillet, who has time for the oven?!
I so agree with you Pamela, I love a nice warm hearty meal. Thank you.
Mac and cheese is such a comfort food dish for me. This recipe looks great!
Thank you, Cindy, Let me know if you make it. It’s really so darn good.
Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food. Love the big pieces of kielbasa in it! My husband would love this.
Mac and Cheese is such a quick, easy, and delicious weeknight meal!
Wonderful recipe! I am a lover of all things mac and cheese so this is right up my alley!
This is my kind of language! Love all the cheesy goodness in this Skillet Mac and Cheese dish!
I almost always have penne pasta and kielbasa in the kitchen. This is a great back pocket recipe to pull out when I don’t know what to make. Yum!
Haley, this is definitely one of my go-to recipes when I have a busy night.
This Skillet Mac and Cheese with Kielbasa so simple, but so delicious! We make a cheesy potato and kielbasa version too!
Thank you, so much Michelle! I would love to hear more about this yummy recipe of yours! Sounds great.
I love that this skillet Mac and Cheese with Kielbasa is such a hearty dish with just a few ingredients. So good!
Hi, Marylynn, thank you so much for stopping by and letting me know you liked the recipe.
My kids really loved the Skillet Mac and Cheese with Kielbasa! A huge hit for dinner!
Hello there, Toni, so glad to hear the kids enjoyed the Skillet Mac and Cheese with Kielbasa
I love the idea of adding kielbasa to mac and cheese! I made this for dinner last night and it was a total winner!
Thank you, Jessica, so glad that they liked the recipe!!!