Skillet Mac and Cheese with Kielbasa is a 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 continue. 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 these days immensely.
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.
Skillet Mac and Cheese with Kielbasa
-
Polish Kielbasa or Smoked Sausage
-
Water to boil pasta
-
Uncooked pasta
-
Evaporated Milk
-
Rotel Tomatoes
-
Cornstarch
-
Colby-Jack Cheese
-
Pepper Jack Cheese
-
Unsalted butter
-
Cajun seasoning
-
Kosher Salt
Instructions for Skillet Mac and Cheese with Kielbasa
-
In a large 14-inch deep metal skillet, brown Polish Kielbasa sausage over medium heat for 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
-
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)
-
In a small glass bowl, whisk cornstarch, milk, and Rotel tomatoes.
-
Gradually add to the cooked penne pasta or macaroni pasta; cook and stir until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
-
Remove from heat; add Colby-Jack cheese, Pepper Jack, and cooked Polish sausage, butter, and Cajun Seasoning
-
Stir until cheeses have blended and melts.

Skillet Mac and Cheese with Kielbasa
Ingredients
- 1 pound Polish Kielbasa or Smoked Sausage ¼ 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
- ¼ teaspoon Cajun Seasoning
- Kosher Salt to own taste
Instructions
- In a large 14-inch deep metal skillet, brown Polish Kielbasa sausage over medium heat for 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- 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)
- In a small glass bowl, whisk cornstarch, milk, and Rotel tomatoes.
- Gradually add to the cooked penne pasta or macaroni pasta; cook and stir until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat; add Colby-Jack cheese, Pepper Jack, and cooked Polish sausage, butter, and Cajun Seasoning
- Stir until cheeses have blended and melts.
Notes
Although themccallumsshamrockpatch.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and how ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Under no circumstances will themccallumsshamrockpatch.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting from your reliance on nutritional information.
Nutrition
Suggested recipes to try
- Beef and Biscuits Casserole is the ideal flavorful meal for a weeknight dinner or busy weekend. Beef, carrots, potatoes, peas, corn, and green beans, topped with deliciously fluffy biscuits come together in a cozy harmony.
- Pastitsio – Greek Lasagna is one of my childhood favorites made with comforting layers of long tubular pasta, a delicious homemade Mediterranean meat sauce spiced with ground cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, and topped with creamy béchamel and Kefalotyri cheese
- Broccoli Shrimp Alfredo combines a rich cheesy tasting Alfredo Sauce with deliciously succulent gulf shrimp and fresh organic broccoli florets. It’s super easy to make and the perfect comfort food to serve your family, that’s ready to eat in no time at all on busy work nights.
Don’t forget to use the Pin and Print features to save the recipe!
24 Comments
Hayley
August 5, 2019 at 10:41 amI 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!
hmccallum
August 5, 2019 at 12:08 pmHaley, this is definitely one of my go-to recipes when I have a busy night.
Sara Welch
May 9, 2019 at 2:29 pmThis is my kind of language! Love all the cheesy goodness in this Skillet Mac and Cheese dish!
Caitlyn Erhardt
May 9, 2019 at 2:24 pmWonderful recipe! I am a lover of all things mac and cheese so this is right up my alley!
Tara
May 9, 2019 at 2:05 pmMac and Cheese is such a quick, easy, and delicious weeknight meal!
Marie
May 9, 2019 at 1:46 pmMac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food. Love the big pieces of kielbasa in it! My husband would love this.
Cindy Gordon
September 24, 2018 at 3:46 pmMac and cheese is such a comfort food dish for me. This recipe looks great!
hmccallum
September 25, 2018 at 9:09 amThank you, Cindy, Let me know if you make it. It’s really so darn good.
pamelagreer
September 24, 2018 at 3:40 pmPerfect comfort food!! I love that you can make it all in one skillet, who has time for the oven?!
hmccallum
September 25, 2018 at 9:09 amI so agree with you Pamela, I love a nice warm hearty meal. Thank you.
Emily
September 24, 2018 at 3:34 pmThis looks soooo delicious! I love comforting meals like this!
hmccallum
September 25, 2018 at 9:08 amHey 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.
Taylor
September 24, 2018 at 3:26 pmThis pasta dish is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner! Looks so hearty and delicious!
hmccallum
September 25, 2018 at 9:07 amGood morning and Thank you, Taylor! Glad you stopped by. Thanks for the compliment.
Maria
September 24, 2018 at 3:25 pmIt’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.
hmccallum
September 25, 2018 at 9:06 amHi, Maria, yes it sure does make our lives so much easier in the long run.