An Easy Sausage Macaroni perfect for a weeknight dinner. I love how easy it is to incorporate flavours and ingredients into macaroni to create quick meals.
The past week has been super crazy as we experienced a massive storm on Tuesday. With a fierce combination of hail the size of golf balls, gail force winds and lashing rain our city and surrounding areas was left devastated. Highways, homes hospitals, schools and shopping centers were left flooded in just a matter of a few minutes. Dogs were running around as walls around homes collapsed. A six month old puppy found refuge in our garage, the poor little thing was terrified. When the storm died down a bit, we took him to our local vet where he stayed the night. Fortunately he was reunited with his family the next day. I really hope that all the other lost animals get to go home as well.
I think that it was one of the scariest storms we ever encountered. I know that many other countries have experienced this or much worse, but here in South Africa, we do not expect such extreme weather and sometimes not prepared for it. My heart really goes out to all those who lose so much in this situation. And it make my heart swell with pride when people get together to help those affected.
My home experienced some damage as well, with water coming in from under the doors, windows breaking with the force of the hail and wind and many trees falling. But I still count my family and myself fortunate compared to the devastation others encountered.
The next day the sun shone brightly with a calming breeze as everyone began cleaning up after the storm. Mopping up, drying carpets, fixing roof tiles and walls, and moving massive trees from driveways and roads.
A MEAL PREPARED IN UNDER HALF AN HOUR
With all the cleaning up I had to do, cooking quick meals was norm for the week. Never have I been more grateful than to use canned and bottled foods as I have this past week. And to that pasta was a great addition. This recipe for Easy Sausage Macaroni takes just 20 minutes to cook. That is a really quick easy to prepare and extremely comforting and satisfying meal ready in under half an hour.
I just fried up a bit of onion and green and red bell pepper, add a bit of crushed garlic and chilli powder and emptied a can of chopped Italian tomatoes into the pan. A good bottled pasta sauce added to this and cooked for about 10 minutes puts the magic into the entire dish.
In this dish I used vegetarian sausage, which cooks very quickly…in about 5 minutes. However you can add any type of sausage you prefer and cook to your preference. Boil and drain the water from the pasta and add it to your cooked pasta sauce. Sprinkle over some grated mozzarella and a few basil leaves and you have an amazing dinner.
If you find the pasta sauce too tangy, you could stir in a bit of bechamel / white sauce into it. This adds a bit of creaminess and cuts out the tanginess of the canned tomato.
So whether you are stuck in evening traffic and have a few minutes to prepare dinner or emergency situations calling for emergency dinners or just want something really quick to prepare, I got you covered with my recipe for Easy Sausage Macaroni.
PS. YOU CAN FIND GREAT TIPS FOR COOKING THE PERFECT PASTA HERE
Enjoy ♥
- 1 x 400g canned chopped tomatoes
- 1 x 400g pasta sauce I used the one with basil and olives in the mix
- 1 x clove crushed garlic clove
- ½ finely chopped onion
- 1 x medium red or green bell pepper
- ½ teaspoon chilli powder optional
- ¼ teaspoon mixed dried herbs
- about 8 basil leaves
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 4 sausages cooked and sliced I used vegetarian sausage, use any type you prefer
- ½ cup grated cheese
- 500 g macaroni boiled and drained
- TO MAKE THE WHITE SAUCE OPTIONAL If you find the pasta sauce too tangy, you could stir in a bit of bechamel / white sauce into it. This adds a bit of creaminess and cuts out the tanginess of the canned tomato.
- 250 ml milk
- 2 Tablespoon butter or margarine
- 2 Tablespoon all purpose / cake flour
- ¼ cup grated cheese
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg optional
- salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ teaspoon dried mixed herbs or finely chopped fresh basil leaves
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Boil macaroni according to package instructions.
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As soon as the pasta has finished cooking, strain out the water but do not rinse.
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While the macaroni is cooking ,Fry the onions and peppers on medium heat until softened. Add in crushed garlic and mixed herbs and cook for about 1 minute
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Empty in the can of chopped tomatoes, bottled pasta sauce and add in the chilli powder if using.
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Cook until slightly reduced, about 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sometimes bottled pasta sauce has added salt , so taste first and adjust salt and pepper to your preference.
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Add in the cooked and sliced sausages.
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Stir in the strained macaroni, coating it well into the sauce. Garnish with grated cheese and basil leaves.
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TO MAKE THE WHITE SAUCE IF USING IN MACARONI
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In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter or margarine. Add in mixed herbs or basil leaves and nutmeg if using.
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Add flour and stir with a whisk until the butter and flour are well combined.
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Pour in milk, stirring constantly as it thickens.Add more milk depending on desired consistency. Measure out salt and pepper to taste.
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Stir in grated cheese until melted. Combine into the sausage macaroni if prefered.
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Serve immediately. ( SEE NOTE 1)
NOTE 1
Pasta dishes are best served immediately after cooking otherwise it tends to dry up if served too long after cooking.
I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through! But I’m so glad you and your family are OK! And thank goodness that puppy found your garage. I hate to think of how scared he must have been. I hope everyone is able to get back to normal soon. You’ll be in my prayers!
Thank you so much Kelsie, I really appreciate your kind words. It was really sad to see how many people were searching for their pets the next day. I am happy that this little pup was reunited with his family the very next day.
It is scary how weather patterns are changing and causing natural disasters around the world and coming with little or no warning at all. Things have been returning to normal and it is heartwarming to see everyone get together to help each other out. ?
So sorry to hear how destructive the weather has been there – you’re right, we don’t hear of that in South Africa so much. I’m glad you were able to rescue that poor puppy, too! This pasta sounds yummy, I’m always looking for a quick weeknight meal. Thanks for the recipe!
Thank you Laura…we were really not prepared for such extreme weather…It is so sad when your pet gets lost, I know that I would be so upset if my dogs go missing as well. So it was great that we were able to help out this poor little pup, and an even greater feeling that his family got him back the next day.
I am glad that you like the recipe…it has become one of our favourite weeknight dinners as well.?
So sorry about the extreme weather….Thank goodness you and your family are safe! 🙂 So this is the kind of meal you see on my table 3 or 4 nights a week! So simple, comforting and delicious!
Thank you Annie, that was a scary morning since everybody was either at work or at school and we were all worried about each other.It feels good to be getting back to normal though.
I am loving simple dinners now…saving the slighly more complicated ones for the weekend! ?
I am so glad you and your family have survived the storm and are getting back to normal. This is an awesome dish and i have everything in the pantry ready to go, a perfect mid-week meal in a hurry.
Thank you so much Emma ? It was really a frightening morning.
Yes it is ingredients that we always have in our kitchens and pantry that make this a really simple one.
this looks perfect for warm cozy nights
Oh that is so true Patrick! ?
I love easy dishes like this one, are sure to please the whole family! Looks super yummy! Xoxo
Awww, Thank you Kelly, yes everybody loves this at home, sometimes I feel that I should double this recipe because it is actually great for luncboxes the next day with a bit of grated cheese ?
And so sorry to hear about the storm! Glad you are ok!!!
Thank you so much Kelly, I appreciate your kind words ?
Easy, peasy and so tasty…what more can you ask for a wonderful weekday meal?
So true Angie, really super easy.
Have a great week?
So sorry for the extreme weather Ashika. It’s been crazy all over, God help us. Glad your family is safe:)
Thank you Maria, yes it has been so unpredictable all over. Really scary.
That storm sounds awful Ashika. I’m glad you are OK and well done on rescuing the puppy. 🙂 Whilst no where near as bad as the storm you experienced we are currently being battered here in Scotland by the remnants of Storm Ophelia. There’s a bit of structural damage around here in Glasgow but nothing too significant. That’s great that you were inspired to whip up this amazing dish. It may be simple, but my goodness it doesn’t half look tasty! 🙂
Awww…thank you for your kind words Neil. These storms are crazy and so unpredictable. Please take care during these nasty weather patterns and storms.
Easy dinner recipes really helped during this crazy week ?
oh no ): so sorry the weather was/is crazy (it’s been crazy everywhere recently…), but glad that you and your family are safe and healthy! this macaroni sounds like just the thing for that kind of a week.
Thank you Heather…oh yes this spicy macaroni was so easy to prepare and everyone enjoyed it after a really miserable day?
So sorry for the weather :(. Nature is so unpredictable..But meals like these can bring a smile on everyone’s face. It looks super yummy Ashika..And I love the idea of adding some white sauce to this to cut the tanginess!
Thank you Deepika, this was a really comforting dinner to prepare and to enjoy together ?
Oh my gosh! What a crazy sounding storm. I’m sorry you had to go through that, but thank goodness you and your family are ok! Easy dinners like this are the best in times like these!! Hope you’re through the worst of the wacky weather Ashika!
Thank you Katherine, the weather has definitely calmed down…gosh it was crazy.
It was great working with easy to prepare recipes?
Hello.
I am so sorry to hear about the storm. But I am glad everyone’s okay. This easy sausage macaroni is super easy and fast to make. I’ll be making it soon. It looks so yummy.
Hello Susana, Thank you, I really appreciate your kind words.
I am so happy that you like the recipe, let me know how it turns out when you make it.
Thank you for visiting my blog ?
I’m so sorry you had to experience severe and damaging weather. I hope things return back to normal for you soon. I love quick easy recipes like this. It is definitely something that I would inhale.
Thank you Thao. Everything has returned to normal, but you still see the stuctural damage to homes and roads left by the storm. It will take time to repaire.
Oh, this recipe was a real comfort during that nasty storm, easy quick and delicious.?