Hey foodies! Today I’m super excited to share my favorite comfort food recipe that’s gonna blow your mind – Shrimp Mac and Cheese! We’ve been making this in our family for years, and lemme tell you, it’s absolutely delish.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Listen up – this ain’t your regular mac and cheese. Here’s why you’ll fall in love with it:
- Perfect combo of seafood + creamy pasta
- Uses TWO types of cheese for extra yumminess
- Got a crispy buttery topping that’s to die for
- Ready in under an hour
- Great for family dinners or potlucks
What You Need
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta shells (that’s about 1 regular box)
- 6 tablespoons butter (divided into 4 + 2)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 3 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 pound medium-sized shrimp (peeled & cooked)
- 1/2 cup crushed butter crackers
Seasonings
- 1/2 teaspoon seafood seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prep Work
First things first, preheat your oven to 375°F. While that’s heating up, grab a 9×13 baking dish and give it a good spray with cooking spray.
2. Cook The Pasta
- Boil your pasta according to what it says on the box
- Don’t forget to drain it well
- Pro tip: I like to cook it just a tiny bit less than al dente cause it’ll cook more in the oven
3. Make The Sauce (This Is Where The Magic Happens!)
- Grab a large pot and melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat
- Add flour and all your seasonings
- Cook for about a minute until it looks kinda golden
- Slowly pour in your milk while stirring like crazy
- Keep stirring until it starts bubbling and gets thick
- Now’s the fun part – add in that cheddar cheese!
4. Put It All Together
- Take the pot off the heat
- Mix in your:
- Cooked pasta
- Shrimp
- Mozzarella cheese
- Pour everything into your baking dish
5. The Finishing Touch
- Mix those crushed crackers with 2 tablespoons melted butter
- Sprinkle this heavenly mixture all over the top
6. Bake It Up!
Pop it in the oven for 20-30 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when:
- Everything’s hot and bubbly
- The top is golden brown
- Your kitchen smells amazing!
Tips & Tricks
-
Cheese Choice Matters: Don’t skimp on the cheese quality! Sharp cheddar gives the best flavor.
-
About the Shrimp:
- Make sure they’re fully cooked before adding
- Medium size works best
- Pat them dry to avoid making the sauce watery
-
Make Ahead You can assemble everything except the cracker topping up to a day ahead, Just add the topping right before baking,
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t overcook your pasta – nobody likes mushy mac and cheese!
- Keep stirring that sauce constantly, or you’ll end up with lumps
- Don’t skip the seafood seasoning – it really makes the dish pop
Variations You Can Try
Feel free to mix things up! Here’s some ideas
- Add some crispy bacon bits
- Throw in some sautéed garlic
- Mix in some steamed broccoli
- Try different cheese combos
Serving Suggestions
This dish is pretty filling on its own, but if you wanna make it a complete meal, try serving it with:
- A fresh green salad
- Garlic bread
- Steamed veggies
- A glass of white wine (for us grown-ups!)
Storage Tips
Got leftovers? No problem!
- Store in an airtight container
- Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days
- Reheat in the microwave or oven
- Add a splash of milk when reheating if it seems dry
Remember, cooking should be fun, so don’t stress too much about getting everything perfect. As long as you’ve got good cheese and fresh shrimp, you’re gonna end up with something delicious! Happy cooking, everyone!
Cajun Shrimp Mac and Cheese – The ultimate decadent white cheddar and parmesan shrimp pasta perfect as a main dish and great as a side to grilled steaks!
B.J. and I recently got back from our 20th anniversary trip. We went to Boston and surrounding areas, and ended with a few days in the picturesque Nantucket Island. I’ll be posting all about our trip soon, but I wanted to share the first recipe I knew I would be recreating once we got back home. I tried Lobster at just about every dinner, and I had Lobster Mac and Cheese twice. This Cajun Shrimp Mac and Cheese is my southern Louisiana recreation of one of my favorite versions of mac and cheese I tried at Brant Point Grill in Nantucket.
If you’ve followed along around here for any length of time then you know shrimp is one of my favorites with pasta. I’m so excited with how well this mac and cheese recipe came out!! I nailed it y’all!!
Without trying to sound too forceful, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THIS SOON! It’s that good folks. Make it as a main dish or as a side to go with grilled steak. Heck, make it for company too!
Two important things to note about this Cajun Shrimp Mac and Cheese:
- The key to this recipe is the Vermont White Cheddar and the fresh parmesan. It gives it restaurant quality taste.
- If you can’t find rigatoni, just use another bigger noodle like penne or ziti.Connect with Diary of a Recipe Collector! Follow us on social media, so you never miss a recipe!Email Subscription | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
- 1 lb shrimp (medium size- peeled and deveined)
- 2 1/2 tsp creole seasoning, divided
- 3/4 lb rigatoni
- 1 stick butter
- 3 oz cream cheese
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 3/4 cup half and half
- 3/4 cup shredded parmesan
- 2 cups white cheddar cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 tbsp chopped chives
- Season shrimp with 1 tsp creole seasoning.
- In a large skillet or sauce pan, heat 1/2 stick butter over medium high heat. Add shrimp and saute for about 4 minutes. Remove shrimp from pan. Leave liquid in pan.
- Boil pasta according to package directions.
- Add the other 1/2 stick of butter and 3 oz of cream cheese. Stir and melt over medium heat.
- Add heavy cream and half and half. Season with 1 1/2 tsp creole seasoning. Stir and simmer over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
- Stir in both cheeses and allow to simmer for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add shrimp and drained pasta. Stir and allow to simmer a few minutes.
- In a small skillet, heat olive oil and stir in bread crumbs. Allow bread crumbs to toast for a few minutes until golden brown. Remove from heat.
- Top pasta with toasted bread crumbs and chives. Serve warm.
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Shrimp Mac and Cheese
FAQ
Can you add shrimp to macaroni and cheese?
This shrimp mac and cheese takes on a subtle coastal flair with the addition of tender salad shrimp. These tiny shrimp work well as they’re comparable in size to the elbow macaroni.
Do cheese and shrimp go together?
Mild cheeses like mascarpone or cream cheese can complement delicate seafood like crab or shrimp. Stronger cheeses may overpower the dish. Cooking Method: If the dish is baked, like a seafood casserole or gratin, cheese can add a desirable texture and flavor.
Can I cook pasta and shrimp together?
Cook the pasta until al dente. While the pasta is cooking, in a large frying pan add the olive oil, garlic, fresh parsley, shrimp, salt and hot pepper flakes if desired. Cook on medium heat until the shrimp are cooked and no longer pink.