Haute Box

Did you grow-up with Kraft Macaroni and Cheese? I definitely did! I even took the iconic blue-boxed dinner to college with me…how could I not?! Easy to make and perfect for post party munchies! Dear god…college memories. I digress.

A fond memory I have of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is what my sister and I like to call the “Babysitter Dinner” – Macaroni and cheese with hot dog links stirred in.

As a youngster, I loved this dinner! I loved any babysitter that could make this for me and my sister. Well…I am not a youngster anymore; I’ve kept the blue-boxed memories but not the blue box dinner.

I fully enjoy the grown-up version of the “Babysitter Dinner;” a stove top mac-n-cheese made with whole-wheat pasta, sharp cheddar and grilled chicken sausage. Divine!

You’ll like this too. Firstly, it takes less than 30-minutes to make! Take that Rachel Ray! It contains whole-wheat goodness from the pasta, lean chicken sausage, fat-free evaporated milk rather than regular evaporated milk and reduced fat sharp cheddar that still holds it’s flavor.

Nutritional perks -

Whole wheat
Sharp cheddar
Chicken

Stove Top Mac-n-Cheese with Chicken Sausage
Inspired and loosely adapted from this recipe

Print Recipe

- 12 oz spiral whole-wheat pasta or your favorite pasta shape
- 1 cup grated reduced fat sharp cheddar
- 1 egg
- 1 (12 oz) can of fat free evaporated milk
- 1/2 tsp mustard powder
- 3 chicken sausage, grilled and sliced on the bias
- sea salt and pepper to taste
- dried bread crumbs (optional)

Cook pasta according to package, drain and return to pot. The pot should be set at medium-low heat. Stir-in the grated cheese, evaporated milk, egg, mustard powder. Continue stirring until the mixture is thick and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Incorporate the sliced grilled sausage.

Turn on the broiler. Divide into individual oven-proof bowls or ramekins. Sprinkle dried bread crumbs and place in broiler till the bread crumbs become toasty and light brown. Dig in!