Pesto Mac & Cheese With Sausage Sauté

Pesto Mac & Cheese
1 Pound of short pasta (such as fusilli)
Pesto Sauce
Grated mozzarella
Parmesan cheese

Sausage Sauté
1 Package sweet Italian chicken sausage
Red onion, thinly sliced
EVOO

This is a more grown-up version of mac & cheese with hot dogs. Chicken sausage is a great dinner option, and I always make sure to have some on hand. It cooks up quick, and goes with virtually any pasta dish. Here, it becomes a side dish for my pasta sautéed with onions. Any pesto sauce mixed with good mozzarella cheese, makes a great creamy sauce for the pasta. It kind of reminds me of the Annie's Alfredo Mac & Cheese, but with a more sophisticated flavor. If you have the time to make your own pesto sauce, this dish could become even tastier.

Boil water for the pasta. Thinly slice the sausage and the onions. Heat EVOO in skillet and sauté sausage and onions until brown and caramelized. Grate cheese while boiling the pasta. Once al dente strain and put back in warm pot. Stir in pesto and cheese until combined. Serve with sausage sauté and grated Parmesan cheese.