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Creamy Cajun shrimp and crab mac and cheese baked with a crispy panko topping, bacon crumbles, green onions, and a gooey cheese pull.

Cajun Shrimp & Crab Mac and Cheese

This Cajun Shrimp & Crab Mac and Cheese combines juicy shrimp, sweet crab meat, crispy bacon, and a rich three-cheese sauce for the ultimate seafood comfort food. Finished with buttery panko and baked until golden brown, it’s guaranteed to impress.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Main Course, seafood
Cuisine: American, cajun, southern
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

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

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Large skillet
  • Whisk
  • Mixing spoon
  • 9x13 Baking dish or cast iron skillet
  • Measuring cups and spoons

Method
 

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.
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
  1. Melt butter in a large pot.
  2. Whisk in flour and cook 2 minutes.
  3. Slowly add milk and cream while whisking.
  4. Add garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  5. Simmer until thickened.
Add the Cheese
  1. Reduce heat to low.
  2. Add cheddar, mozzarella, and Monterey Jack.
  3. Stir until completely melted and silky smooth.
  4. Assemble
  5. Add cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce.
  6. Fold in shrimp, crab, and half the bacon.
  7. Transfer to a greased baking dish.
Bake
  1. Sprinkle buttered panko evenly over the top.
  2. Bake 20–25 minutes until bubbly.
  3. Broil 1–2 minutes for extra color if desired.
Finish
  1. Top with remaining bacon and green onions.
  2. 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.