Ingredients
– 2 and 1/2 cups uncooked elbow pasta
– 6 diced andouille sausages
– 1 diced red pepper
– 1 tablespoon olive oil for sautéing
– 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, sauté 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 350°F (175°C). 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:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
🔥 Use andouille sausage for authentic Cajun flavor.
🧀 For creamier cheese sauce, use freshly grated cheese at room temperature.
🌶️ 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, sautéing, 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
