Ingredients
– 2 and 1/2 cups uncooked elbow pasta
– 6 diced andouille sausages
– 1 diced red pepper
– 1 tablespoon olive oil for sautรฉing
– 2 blocks (8 ounces each) grated white Cheddar cheese
– 2 tablespoons butter for roux
– 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour to thicken sauce
– 1 and 1/2 cups milk
– 1/4 teaspoon salt
– 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
– Smoked paprika for topping
Instructions
1- Making Cajun Mac And Cheese is straightforward and fun, starting with boiling the elbow noodles. First, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the 2 and 1/2 cups of uncooked elbow pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside. While that’s happening, sautรฉ the 6 diced andouille sausages and 1 diced red pepper in 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat until browned, then set aside.
2- Next, preheat your oven to 350ยฐF (175ยฐC). In the same pan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat, stir in 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon of salt, then gradually whisk in 1 and 1/2 cups of milk until the sauce thickens smoothly. Reduce the heat, add 4 cups of shredded white Cheddar cheese, and stir until melted, then mix in 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning.
3- Combine the drained pasta with the cheese sauce, sausage, and peppers, stirring everything together. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish, top with the remaining cheese, sprinkle with smoked paprika, and bake for 15 minutes. For a browned top, finish under the broiler for a few minutes while watching carefully to avoid burning. Let it cool slightly before serving, and feel free to add extra Cajun seasoning on top for more spice.
Last Step:
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๐ฅ Use andouille sausage for authentic Cajun flavor.
๐ง For creamier cheese sauce, use freshly grated cheese at room temperature.
๐ถ๏ธ Adjust Cajun seasoning to control the heat level to your preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Boiling, sautรฉing, baking
- Cuisine: Cajun
- Diet: Contains dairy
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
