Macaroni And Cheese With Sausage And Pears

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 3-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain macaroni and transfer to the prepared casserole dish.

Heat butter in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir onions in the melted butter until partially translucent, about 5 minutes. Whisk in flour until paste-like consistency, 3 to 5 minutes. Slowly stream in milk, stirring constantly, until flour mixture is incorporated, about 5 minutes. Stir in Cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese until completely melted and and sauce has thickened, 5 to 10 minutes.

Pour cheese sauce into macaroni; stir to coat. Season with black pepper. Stir in sausage.

Reserve 4 slices of pears; dice remaining pear slices and stir into macaroni mixture. Arrange the reserved slices atop macaroni mixture.

Stir 2 tablespoons melted butter and bread crumbs together in a small bowl; sprinkle over macaroni mixture.

Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is bubbling and topping is lightly browned, about 30 minutes.