Mac ‘n Cheese with Sausage and Kale

One pan meal cooked all on the stove top. Packed with healthy kale and lots of flavor, this one will be sure to please your family.
Ingredients:
Yield: 4 to 6 servings

3 tablespoons olive oil

½ onion, diced

1 large bunch kale, trimmed of stems, coarsely chopped

salt

3 large garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 pound loose sweet Italian sausage

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

6 cups low-sodium chicken broth or water

1 pound short pasta (such as macaroni, cavatappi or fusilli)

2 cups/8 ounces shredded sharp Cheddar

1 ½ teaspoons hot sauce, to taste

Directions:
Step 1. Heat the olive oil in a wide pot or a large, deep skillet over medium-high, then add the onion, kale, and ½ teaspoon salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the kale has cooked down and the onion is smaller in size, 4 to 5 minutes.

Step 2. Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook, stirring often, until the paste darkens slightly, 1 to 3 minutes.

Step 3. Add the sausage and cook, breaking the meat into small pieces, until it loses its pink color, 4 to 5 minutes.

Step 4. Add the red pepper flakes, sprinkle with salt, and give everything a good stir. Add the chicken broth and pasta and stir to combine. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, place a lid on the pan, and cook until the pasta is soft but still has some bite to it, about 10 minutes. Be sure to check on the pasta and stir every now and again. (The sauce will have thickened from the starch in the pasta.)

Step 5. Add the cheese and hot sauce and mix well. Add salt and additional hot sauce to taste before serving.