Cajun Mac and Cheese

cheddar cheese

🥗Healthier: reduced-fat cheddar

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Reduced-fat cheddar lowers calories while maintaining flavor.

monterey jack cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: colby cheese

Part-skim mozzarella is lower in fat but still melty.

cream cheese

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: sour cream

Greek yogurt adds creaminess with fewer calories.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil is a healthier fat option.

Fill a large pot with chicken stock and bring it to a boil for the noodles.

Melt 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a medium heat over a non-stick pot.

Add 4 tablespoons of all-purpose flour to the melted butter and mix until incorporated.

Slowly add in 2 cups of whole milk, whisking to dissolve any clumps.

Once the stock is boiling, add in the pasta and cook according to package instructions, reducing the time by one minute.

Strain the pasta and rinse it in cold water to stop the cooking process.

Grate 8 ounces of sharp cheddar cheese and 8 ounces of monterey jack cheese, and cut 8 ounces of mozzarella cheese into small cubes.

Remove the roux from heat and add in 8 ounces of cream cheese, mixing until fully incorporated.

Add the grated cheddar and monterey jack cheeses to the roux, stirring until creamy.

Season the cheese sauce with 1 tablespoon of ground mustard, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of old bay seasoning, 1 teaspoon of granulated garlic, and 1 teaspoon of salt.

Add approximately 10 dabs of cayenne pepper sauce to the mixture, adjusting for spice preference.

Dice 1/2 green bell pepper, 1/2 red bell pepper, 1/2 yellow onion, and 1 celery stalk into small pieces.

Cut andouille sausage into small pieces and prepare peeled and deveined red shrimp by cutting them in half.

In a skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of neutral oil and sauté the diced vegetables until soft, seasoning with salt and pepper.

Remove the softened vegetables and add the sausage to the same skillet, cooking until browned, then add the shrimp until fully cooked.

Combine the vegetable, sausage, and shrimp mixture into the cheese sauce.

In a casserole dish, combine the cooked pasta with the cheese mixture and add the cubed mozzarella, mixing gently.

Prepare the breadcrumb topping by mixing panko breadcrumbs with 1 teaspoon of old bay seasoning and 1 tablespoon of melted butter.

Spread the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the pasta and cheese mixture.

Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F for 25 to 30 minutes.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens