Servings: 8

1 lb macaroni 1 lb macaroni
1 1⁄2 lbs sweet Italian sausage, uncooked with casings removed 1 1⁄2 lbs sweet Italian sausage, uncooked with casings removed
1 1⁄2 cups onions , caramelized 1 1⁄2 cups onions , caramelized
1 quart whole milk 1 quart whole milk
6 tablespoons unsalted butter 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 tablespoons flour 6 tablespoons flour
3 ⁄4 lb gouda cheese , aged preferred (about 4 cups grated) 3 ⁄4 lb gouda cheese , aged preferred (about 4 cups grated)
salt and pepper salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 350º.
In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until al dente, about 11 minutes (or as directed on package).
Meanwhile, heat a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat.
Add the sausage and cook, stirring and breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 4 minutes.
Transfer the sausage to a large bowl and wipe the saucepan clean.
Add the pasta and 1 cup caramelized onions to the sausage and stir to combine.
In a medium saucepan or a microwave oven, heat the milk until steaming.
Return the large saucepan to the stove, add the butter and melt over medium heat.
Add the flour and cook, whisking constantly, for 3 minutes.
Whisk in the hot milk, ¼ cup at a time, and continue whisking until the sauce is smooth and thick and comes to a simmer.
Add 2 ½ cups cheese, remove from the heat and whisk until the cheese is melted, about 2 minutes; season to taste with salt and pepper.
Add the cheese sauce to the pasta mixture and stir to combine.
Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and add the pasta mixture in an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup caramelized onions and 1 ½ cups cheese on top.
Bake until golden and bubbling, about 40 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

I had created a revised version of this using margarine and 1% milk but I can't believe it was very good, so I deleted it and am using this one.  I had created a revised version of this using margarine and 1% milk but I can't believe it was very good, so I deleted it and am using this one.