I love a classic mac and cheese. But I also love a spin on a classic, like this recipe for Cajun Mac and Cheese!
This Cajun Mac and Cheese recipe is made of elbow pasta with onions, bell peppers, celery, and andouille sausage, baked in a creamy, spiced cheese sauce.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 (16 oz) box elbow pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 1 (12 oz – 16 oz) package Andouille sausage, chopped
- 2 cups milk
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 4 oz cubed sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 oz cubed gouda cheese
Heat a medium sized pot (paid link) filled with water over medium high heat. Bring to a boil, add 1 tablespoon salt and the pasta, and cook according to package directions for al dente pasta. Drain and set aside.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil a large saute pan over medium high heat. Add in the onion, pepper, and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is fragrant, about 5 minutes.
Chop the Andouille sausage and add to the saute pan with the holy trinity. Cook for another 3-5 minutes until the sausage begins to brown.
Remove from heat and set aside.
Cube your cheese.
Add the milk to a pot over medium heat until small bubbles form around the edges and the milk is steaming.
Ladle out some of the warmed milk into a measuring cup. Add 2 tablespoons flour, whisking to combine.
Pour the flour mixture into the pot with the rest of the steamed milk, stirring constantly with a whisk for 1 minutes.
Stir in 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning. Bring the heat down to low.
Gradually add in the cheese cubes to the pot, stirring with the spoon until the cheese melts.
When completely melted, stir in the pasta, then stir in the andouille mixture.
Transfer the Cajun Mac and Cheese to a baking dish (paid link). Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
Add the baking dish to the oven and bake for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, turn on the broiler on high and broil the mac and cheese for 3 to 5 minutes or until it begins to lightly brown (keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn!)
Remove from the oven and dig in!
What a yummy, flavorful spin on a classic!
This Cajun Mac and Cheese would be a great side at a Mardi Gras themed party or on its own as a main dish. The Cajun seasoning comes through nicely, enhancing the flavor of the andouille.
This recipe can be made ahead of time and reheated when ready to enjoy.
Cajun Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 16 oz box elbow pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 2 green bell peppers finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks finely chopped
- 1 12 oz – 16 oz package Andouille sausage, chopped
- 2 cups milk
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 4 oz cubed sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 oz cubed gouda cheese
Instructions
- Heat a medium sized pot filled with water over medium high heat. Bring to a boil, add 1 tablespoon salt and the pasta, and cook according to package directions for al dente pasta. Drain and set aside.
- Finely chop your onion, bell pepper, and celery. (This is known as the Holy Trinity and the base for most Cajun food.)
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil a large saute pan over medium high heat. Add in the onion, pepper, and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Chop the Andouille sausage and add to the saute pan with the holy trinity. Cook for another 3-5 minutes until the sausage begins to brown.
- Remove from heat and set aside.
- Cube your cheese.
- Add the milk to a pot over medium heat until small bubbles form around the edges and the milk is steaming.
- Ladle out some of the warmed milk into a measuring cup. Add 2 tablespoons flour, whisking to combine.
- Pour the flour mixture into the pot with the rest of the steamed milk, stirring constantly with a whisk for 1 minutes.
- Stir in 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning. Bring the heat down to low.
- Gradually add in the cheese cubes to the pot, stirring with the spoon until the cheese melts.
- When completely melted, stir in the pasta, then stir in the andouille mixture.
- Transfer the pasta mixture to a baking dish. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- Add the baking dish to the oven and bake for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, turn on the broiler on high and broil the mac and cheese for 3 to 5 minutes or until it begins to lightly brown (keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn!)
- Remove from the oven and dig in!
