Forktionary

Tuscan Mac N Cheese Recipe

Experience culinary bliss with this award-winning Tuscan Mac & Cheese! Winner of a $400 casserole contest, this recipe elevates classic mac and cheese with savory Italian sausage, creamy cheeses, and aromatic herbs. A magazine-featured favorite, it's the perfect comforting dish for family dinners or special occasions. Get ready to impress!

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 100 mins
Calories 602.1 kcal
Protein 46g
Rating 5.0 (2 Reviews)
Tuscan Mac N Cheese 29

Recipe Actions

Share this recipe:

Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Tuscan Mac N Cheese

Cook Smarter with Sous, Your Kitchen Companion

Missing an ingredient for this Tuscan Mac N Cheese? Need a perfect wine pairing or a healthy side dish idea? Don't guess—ask Sous! Your AI-powered sous-chef is ready to help you swap ingredients, adjust serving sizes, and discover flavor tips in seconds.

How to Make Tuscan Mac N Cheese

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Remove casings from 1 lb Italian sausage, if present.
  3. Crumble sausage into a large skillet and cook over medium heat until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain off any excess grease.
  4. Cook 1 lb pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  5. In a very large bowl, combine the cooked sausage, cooked pasta, 8 oz cream cheese (softened), 1 cup bread cubes, 1/2 cup chopped olives (such as Castelvetrano), and 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese. Set aside.
  6. In a medium saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon dried sage, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  7. Gradually whisk in 3 cups milk all at once.
  8. Cook and stir until the sauce has thickened and is bubbly (about 2-3 minutes).
  9. Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta mixture and stir gently to combine.
  10. Transfer the mixture to a greased 2-quart casserole dish.
  11. Bake, covered, for 35 minutes.
  12. Uncover the casserole.
  13. Top with 1 cup sliced tomatoes and 1/2 cup shredded cheese of your choice (e.g., Parmesan, Romano).
  14. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes more, or until heated through and the topping is golden brown.
  15. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with fresh thyme, if desired.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

51 g

Sugar

7g

Fat

87g

Carbs

15g

Recipe Categories (Choose a category and find related recipes!)

Main Courses Main Dish / Dinner Pork Recipes European Italian Mediterranean The Americas American Fall Recipes Baking

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

Weeknight Time To Make Course Main Ingredient Cuisine Preparation Occasion Lunch Main Dish Eggs Dairy Pasta Poultry Vegetables Oven European Potluck Dinner Party Holiday Event Italian Cheese Turkey Stove Top Dietary One Dish Meal Comfort Food Meat Pasta Rice And Grains Elbow Macaroni Tomatoes Taste Mood Savory To Go Equipment Presentation Served Hot 4 Hours Or Less