Cajun Shrimp & Crab Mac and Cheese

Serves: 8 | Prep: 20 minutes | Cook: 35 minutes | Total: 55 minutes

Intro:

This Cajun Shrimp & Crab Mac and Cheese take classic comfort food to another level. Loaded with tender shrimp, sweet lump crab meat, crispy bacon, and a rich three-cheese sauce, every bite is creamy, cheesy, and packed with bold Cajun flavor.

Why This Works:

• Three cheeses create maximum creaminess.
• Cajun seasoning adds bold flavor without overwhelming the seafood.
• Shrimp and crab provide a restaurant-quality feel.
• Bacon adds smoky crunch.
• Toasted panko creates the perfect texture contrast.
• Great for holidays, parties, and special dinners.

Ingredients:

Pasta

• 1 pound elbow macaroni

Seafood

• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 8 ounces lump crab meat
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Cheese Sauce

• 6 tablespoons butter
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 4 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
• 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

Cheese

• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded
• 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, freshly shredded

Topping

• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 3 green onions, sliced

Kitchen Tools Needed:

• Large pot
• Large skillet
• Whisk
• Mixing spoon
• 9×13 baking dish or cast-iron skillet
• Measuring cups and spoons

Prep:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Cook bacon until crispy and crumble.
3. Shred cheeses.
4. Mix panko with melted butter.
5. Cook macaroni one minute less than package directions.

Instructions:

Cook the Seafood

1. Toss shrimp with olive oil and Cajun seasoning.
2. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Cook shrimp 2–3 minutes until just done.
4. Remove from skillet and set aside.
5. Gently fold crab meat into shrimp.

Make the Cheese Sauce

6. Melt butter in a large pot.
7. Whisk in flour and cook 2 minutes.
8. Slowly add milk and cream while whisking.
9. Add garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
10. Simmer until thickened.

Add the Cheese

11. Reduce heat to low.
12. Add cheddar, mozzarella, and Monterey Jack.
13. Stir until completely melted and silky smooth.

Assemble

14. Add cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce.
15. Fold in shrimp, crab, and half the bacon.
16. Transfer to a greased baking dish.

Bake

17. Sprinkle buttered panko evenly over the top.
18. Bake 20–25 minutes until bubbly.
19. Broil 1–2 minutes for extra color if desired.

Finish

20. Top with remaining bacon and green onions.
21. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes:

• Freshly shredded cheese melts much better than pre-shredded.
• Do not overcook the shrimp before baking.
• If the topping browns too quickly, loosely cover with foil.
• Add a pinch of cayenne if you like extra heat.
• For maximum cheese pull, serve while hot.

Goes Great With:

• Garlic bread
• Caesar salad
• Roasted asparagus
• Classic Sangria Wine
• Cajun green beans
• Southern coleslaw