Name: Sausage Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 16 ounces elbow macaroni (cooked (about 4 cups dry/ 8 cups cooked)); 15 ounces Roasted Garlic Alfredo; 1 cup half and half; 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese; 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese; 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 12 ounces link sausage (diced)

By: Jill Mills Posted: Jul 29, 2026

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Macaroni and smoked sausage are tossed with a thick, creamy alfredo sauce base and lots of cheese to make this Easy Sausage Mac and Cheese. Assembled in foil pans, it’s a great option for campfire mac and cheese, though it can also be prepared on the grill or in the oven.

Close up of a wooden spoon serving sausage mac and cheese

This sausage mac and cheese recipe is a little different from most of my mac and cheese recipes. While it can be baked, like my baked mac and cheese, it’s actually one of our favorite dinners to take camping and prepare on the hot fire. (Our other go-to are these sausage foil packets.) The sauce is a little different too, starting with a jar of canned garlic alfredo sauce, with some added half-and-half and, of course, lots of cheese. The sausage adds some smokiness throughout.

If you don’t camp often, don’t worry. I included the instructions for preparing this mac and cheese on the grill and in the oven below, too. I will say that it’s super fun to cook over the fire, though, even if it’s just in your backyard!

Why We Love This Sausage Mac and Cheese Recipe

Creamy alfredo sauce base. I know, starting mac and cheese with alfredo sauce is not traditional..but it’s so yummy! It makes the perfect base for adding lots of cheese and spices while keeping prep quick and easy.
3 ways to cook it. I love a versatile recipe! This mac and cheese with sausage can be prepared over the campfire, on the grill, or in the oven. There’s never a wrong occasion to cook it!
Super easy to make. Starting with alfredo sauce means there’s no need to make a roux and sauce from scratch, which cuts out a lot of the usual prep time for mac and cheese. It’s also great to make ahead and bake later!

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make sausage mac and cheese

Key Ingredients

This campfire mac and cheese recipe requires just a handful of ingredients to keep things simple. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card at the end of the post for the exact measurements.

Elbow macaroni – Or other similar short pasta.
Alfredo sauce – I use Classico Roasted Garlic Alfredo sauce but any garlicky alfredo sauce will work. Just be sure it’s a 15 ounce jar.
Half and half – Keeps the sauce thick and creamy. Whole milk could work in a pinch but won’t make the sausage mac and cheese as creamy.
Cheese – I use equal parts sharp cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese to add variety to the flavor.
Spices – Smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
Sausage – I used Rancher’s Premium Smokehouse Burnt Ends sausage links because they have great flavor. But any link sausage or kielbasa-type sausage that can be diced works great.

How To Make Macaroni and Cheese with Sausage

This mac and cheese recipe is super easy to prepare, especially since it begins with a jar of alfredo sauce. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Ingredients to make the sauce for sausage mac and cheese in a bowl

Cook the sausage. Cook the diced sausage over medium heat for about 4 minutes, until lightly browned.
Cook the pasta. Prepare the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
Make the sauce. Whisk together the alfredo sauce, half-and-half, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Give it a taste and add salt/pepper as needed.

The ingredients to make macaroni and cheese with sausage in a bowl

Two foil pans of campfire mac and cheese on the grill

Combine. Add the pasta and sausage to the sauce, along with the shredded cheeses. Gently stir to combine.
Assemble. Transfer the mixture to foil pans (if camping or grilling) or an oven-safe baking dish. Cover the pan tightly foil, lightly spraying the side touching the food with cooking spray.
Cook as desired. To prepare this as campfire mac and cheese, burn the campfire down to hot coals with a rack 2-3 inches above the coals. Place the foil pans on the rack and cook for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and everything is heated through.

Overhead view of sausage mac and cheese in foil pans

Do I Have To Cook This On a Campfire?

Nope! While this sausage mac and cheese makes a great campfire mac and cheese recipe, you don’t need to wait until you’re camping to enjoy it.

It can be cooked on the grill over medium-high heat for 15-20 minutes or in the oven at 350F for about 20 minutes. All methods end up deliciously cheesy and tasty!

Tips & Tricks

Here are a few things to keep in mind when making this sausage mac and cheese recipe.

Shred your own cheese. Freshly shredded cheese melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese because it doesn’t contain the anti-caking agents often found in bagged varieties. Buy the block cheese!!
Use individual foil pans. For easy campfire serving, divide the mixture into individual foil pans before cooking. This helps portions heat more quickly and makes cleanup simple.
Bake in a casserole dish. This recipe is meant for individual servings (easy for camping) but it would be great in a large pan served “family style” too. Just transfer the mac and cheese to a regular casserole dish instead of the foil pans before baking.
Rinse the macaroni. Normally, I don’t recommend rinsing pasta used in warm dishes. But for this mac and cheese, it’s necessary as you don’t want it to end up mushy. If you are camping and making these for later, be sure to let the pasta cool all the way before packing it.
Taste the sauce. Jars of alfredo sauce vary greatly in flavor, so I always like to give it a taste once I combine the ingredients and before I add any salt and pepper. Some sauces need more salt than others. I personally love our homemade alfredo sauce recipe the best.

Serving Suggestions

If you’re camping and keeping things simple, this sausage mac and cheese can stand as a full dinner on its own. But if you’re grilling, cooking at home, or just want a more elaborate meal, we love to serve it with grilled veggies or corn on the cob.

A simple green salad, like Olive Garden salad, is also a great option and garlic bread or breadsticks to swipe up every bite of that creamy, cheesy sauce is never a bad idea.

Make Ahead & Storage

Make ahead: This is a great make-ahead camping meal. Prepare the pasta, sausage, and sauce mixture at home, then store it in a sealed container in a cooler until ready to cook.
Leftovers: Leftover sausage mac and cheese can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Reheat covered in a 350°F oven until warmed through, or microwave individual portions. Add a splash of milk or half-and-half if the pasta seems dry.