Description
Cajun Shrimp Crab Mac Cheese brings southern coastal comfort right to your dinner table, melding spicy seafood with creamy pasta goodness. Grab some jumbo shrimp, lump crab, and your favorite cheese blend to craft this hearty Southern classic that’ll have your family asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood:
- 2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 pounds cooked fresh crab legs or 2.5 cups diced imitation crab meat
Dairy and Cheese:
- 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 2 cups mild cheddar cheese, grated
- 2 cups Colby and Monterey Jack cheese blend, grated
- 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 to 2.667 cups evaporated milk
- 2 large eggs, beaten
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 to 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 0.5 to 1 teaspoon paprika, or to taste
- 0.25 to 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
- 0.5 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 0.25 cup fresh or dried basil, plus more for topping
- 3 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- Cajun seasoning for topping
Instructions
- Prepare shrimp by tossing 2 pounds of peeled shrimp with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
- Sear shrimp in a large skillet over medium heat for 4-6 minutes, stirring constantly until pink and opaque. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly butter a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook 3 cups elbow macaroni until al dente. Drain thoroughly.
- Combine cooked pasta with 2 pounds crab meat and ¼ cup basil in a large mixing bowl.
- Whisk 1 cup whole milk and 2 cups evaporated milk in a separate bowl. Add ½ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon cayenne, ½ teaspoon salt, and black pepper.
- Incorporate 2 beaten eggs into the milk mixture until smooth.
- Blend 4 cups sharp cheddar, 2 cups mild cheddar, 2 cups Colby Jack, and ½ cup Parmesan into the milk mixture.
- Fold the cheese mixture into the pasta and seafood until well combined.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle reserved cheeses on top.
- Dust the surface with extra Cajun seasoning, basil, and spices.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes, covering with foil at 35 minutes to prevent over-browning.
- Allow the mac and cheese to rest for 25-30 minutes before serving to set and cool slightly.
Notes
- Check shrimp carefully to ensure they cook evenly and don’t become rubbery by stirring constantly during the 4-6 minute cooking time.
- Use fresh crab meat if possible for the richest flavor, and drain it well to prevent excess moisture in the mac and cheese.
- Grate cheese fresh instead of using pre-shredded varieties for a smoother, more melted texture in the sauce.
- Let the mac and cheese rest after baking to allow the cheesy sauce to set and make serving easier, preventing a runny consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Shrimp
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 646 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 52 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg