Cajun Shrimp Mac and Cheese

Name: Cajun Shrimp Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: pasta, baked, spaghetti
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon olive oil; 1/4 cup diced onion; 1/4 cup diced green pepper; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tablespoon butter; 1 lb Key West Jumbo Gulf Shrimp, peeled and deveined (I used Private Selection); 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning; 1 lb Campanella pasta; 3 tablespoons butter; 3 tablespoons flour; 1 cup milk; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 1 cup shredded white cheddar; 1 cup shredded jack cheese; 1/4 cup Panko bread crumbs; 1/4 cup bread crumbs; 2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese; 1 tablespoon melted butter

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Cajun Shrimp Mac and Cheese – Cajun shrimp are resting atop creamy baked mac and cheese! You won’t be able to resist making this recipe!

This cheese shrimp mac recipe is great for the family or for entertaining, it is a real palate pleaser! Everyone loves a good cheesy macaroni pasta recipe but when you add the crisp and well-seasoned shrimp to the top it really gets the party going! This dinner dish is as impressive-sounding as it is tasty and your dinner guests or family will enjoy every last bite.

What Is Cajun Shrimp?

Cajun shrimp features shrimp coated in a blend of Cajun-inspired spices then cooked until longer pink. Cajun shrimp can be served in a multitude of ways; it can be served over rice or in a dish like this Quinoa Bowl, as a Cajun Shrimp Pizza, or in a skillet and served with a side of crusty bread.

Ingredients

Olive Oil
Onion
Green Pepper
Garlic
Butter
Jumbo Gulf Shrimp
Cajun Seasoning
Campanella Pasta
Flour
Milk
Heavy Cream
White Cheddar Cheese
Jack Cheese
Panko Bread Crumbs
Bread Crumbs
Parmesan Cheese

For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.

How To Make Cajun Shrimp Mac and Cheese

In a large skillet heat olive oil and add diced bell peppers and onions, cooking just until soft. Remove and set aside.
Add butter to the same skillet and add jumbo gulf shrimp. Season the succulent shrimp with Cajun-spice and heat just until they turn pink, remove and set aside.
While the raw shrimp is soaking up all the spicy flavor, prepare your pasta. I chose Campanella pasta because the shape is perfect for capturing sauce and melty cheese, but any curly or ridged pasta will work.
To prepare the sauce, whisk together butter and add flour, stirring constantly, until combined.
Slowly whisk in the whole milk and heavy cream followed by a blend of shredded cheese and stir until smooth and lump free. Add cooked pasta and carefully toss pasta with cheese sauce and cooked vegetables. From here I like to pour the cooked pasta and the vegetables into an ovenproof skillet or prepared baking dish.
Nestle the shrimp right on top. Tender breadcrumb topping is sprinkled over the top just before this kicked-up shrimp mac and cheese gets placed in the oven.
The baked shrimp mac isn’t baked for long, just long enough for those bread crumbs to crisp up and the cheese sauce to thicken around the curves of each piece of pasta.

Recipe Tips

No Cajun seasoning? Make your own! Use a blend of dried thyme, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Cayenne pepper, chipotle chili powder, and salt.
Want to make this a one-pot meal? Instead of preparing your pasta separately, use a deep skillet to cook the veggies and the shrimp and once the shrimp have cooked, fill the skillet with equal parts chicken (or veggie) broth and milk. Bring to a boil, and stir in your past. Cover and cook until the pasta is al dente and the liquid has reduced, Stir in your cheeses and proceed with the recipe.
This recipe does not have to be baked if you are short on time, Stir the shrimp into the pasta and serve it as is.

FAQs

Is Cajun Shrimp Spicy?

The heat level in this recipe is totally up to you! My family doesn’t do spice that well, so my seasoning was mild. I find that in general, the pre-made Cajun seasoning jars tend to be mild. If you like things spicier, toss the shrimp with hot sauce in addition to the seasoning, or add a few dashes of hot sauce to your mac and cheese!

Is Cajun Shrimp Keto Friendly?

As is, no, but this recipe can easily be adapted to adhere to the Keto diet. Omit the pasta and either serve your shrimp with veggies or andouille sausage for a keto meal.

What Goes Well With This Shrimp Mac and Cheese?

You don’t need to serve much with this mac and cheese, a BLT Salad would taste great as would vegetable kabobs or balsamic green beans

Want more Cajun Recipes? Try:

If you like this recipe, you may want to try Lobster Mac and Cheese and Crab and Bacon Mac and Cheese too!

Yield: 4-6