• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Pass The Sushi logo
  • Travel
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
    • Dessert
    • Cocktail Recipes
    • All Recipes
  • Travel
  • About
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
    • Dessert
    • Cocktail Recipes
    • All Recipes
  • Travel
  • About
×

Home » Course » Dinner

Quick Dinner Fixins: Cajun Mac and Cheese

By: Kita · Published May 16, 2012 · Updated: May 16, 2012 · This post may contain affiliate links

Let's get down on the bayou with a kiss, a frog, and some serious flavor.
Macaroni and cheese is something I developed a late love affair with not growing up with the blue  box, but don't make your children suffer the same fate as me, or they may become mac and cheese addicts (see my teenage years). The problem with mac and cheese is that it can get boring if you aren't mixing it up from time to time with new flavors. Sure, melted cheese is amazing, but add some southern kick and we are really talking.
I have yet to see the Princess and the Frog. Now that I'm in my 20's finding an excuse for it's arrival in the Netflix account is harder to come by, though, when I started the posts for this weeks, I did check to see if it was on demand. Sadly, it wasn't. Sad for the man, it's on the list now. And another round of this awesome mac and cheese.

Cajun Mac and Cheese

from Food Network Magazine March 2012

Ingredients:

  • Kosher salt
  • 12 ounces wagon-wheel pasta, I used Barilla Piccolini Mini Wheels with Zuchinni and Spinach to pack some extra veggies in
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 6 ounces andouille sausage, diced
  • 2 bunches scallions, thinly sliced
  • 1 bell pepper (red or green), chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Cajun spice blend
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes

Preparation:

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 1 minute less than the label directs. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta.

Meanwhile, combine the olive oil and sausage in a large skillet over high heat and cook, stirring, until the sausage starts to brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in the scallions and bell pepper and cook until the vegetables are slightly soft, about 3 more minutes. Add the Cajun spice and flour and cook, stirring, 2 more minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk and continue whisking until the sauce is thick and smooth, about 5 more minutes.

Add the pasta, cheese and reserved cooking water to the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, tossing to coat the pasta in the sauce and melt the cheese, about 1 minute.

And congrats to Erin @ the Spiffy Cookie who Random.org selected as the winner of last weeks giveaway, CakeLove in the Morning! 

More Dinner

  • Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Chicken Breast
  • Cajun Chicken, Shrimp, and Sausage Alfredo Pasta
  • Seafood Scampi Pasta using Angel Hair
  • Lasagna Fritta {Copycat Olive Garden Recipe}

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Tried this recipe? Rate it: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says

    May 16, 2012 at 7:34 am

    This sounds so fabulous! Love this kicked up mac and cheese!

    Reply
  2. Belinda @zomppa says

    May 16, 2012 at 7:49 am

    There is no shame in putting that on your Netflix!! =) Hmm...this is such a great twist on a classic.

    Reply
  3. Erin says

    May 16, 2012 at 8:46 am

    I have yet to see that movie either, but I definitely have a deep love for all things mac and cheese. Coming up with new ways to mix it up is definitely key when you eat it a lot O:-). Love this cajun version.

    Reply
  4. The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time says

    May 16, 2012 at 8:56 am

    I haven't seen the movie either and I have a 5 year-old in the house. Dudette has a thing against movies, even cartoons, where people burst into song so much. 🙂 I do love Cajun spices though and would love to eat this pasta since I'm not a fan of the blue box either. This is grown-up type comfort food. It looks delicious.

    Reply
  5. Gerry @ Foodness Gracious says

    May 16, 2012 at 9:01 am

    A fine movie if I do say so! My daughter is like you and is very wary of Mac n cheese. Shel will only try some varieties, she's very choosy when it comes to cheese...oh and she's 7, go figure 🙂

    Reply
  6. Cassie says

    May 16, 2012 at 9:06 am

    Love this one Kita!

    Reply
  7. Tanya C. says

    May 16, 2012 at 9:30 am

    Love the recipes this week! Mac and cheese is a staple at our house. I have always loved kids movies. Even before kids I would drag DH to see the latest movie. Luckily for him it was back when there was a still a drive in and they had double features. He would have to suffer through Mulan or something else then he would get to watch something he was half-way interested in.

    Reply
  8. RavieNomNoms says

    May 16, 2012 at 10:22 am

    This is a total winner Kita!

    Reply
  9. movita beaucoup says

    May 16, 2012 at 11:06 am

    Cajun mac and cheese? Yes, please. I think I would like to put some in my belly. Now. Let's face it, mac and cheese is awesome. Mac and cheese with sausage and awesome fixins? More awesomer.

    Reply
  10. Priscilla M says

    May 16, 2012 at 12:57 pm

    OMG! I so want this, now!

    Reply
  11. Kelly says

    May 16, 2012 at 5:27 pm

    What a gorgeous dish, this sounds amazing!!! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Steph@stephsbitebybite says

    May 16, 2012 at 6:45 pm

    You just couldn't leave mac and cheese alnoe could ya? You had to do this and make me crave cheesy cajun pasta in the matter of seconds. Looks like I need to scratch my dinner plans.

    Reply
  13. Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love says

    May 16, 2012 at 11:22 pm

    Ohhhhh yummy! Please send a big bowl of this my way!

    Reply
  14. Emily @ She Makes and Bakes says

    May 17, 2012 at 11:55 pm

    Yum, yum, yum. Love this!!!

    Reply
  15. Jennie @themessybakerblog says

    May 18, 2012 at 3:05 pm

    Um, yum. Yes, please, I'll have some of that.

    Reply
  16. Roxana GreenGirl { A little bit of everything} says

    May 19, 2012 at 12:09 am

    I love your twist on the classic mac&cheese!

    Reply
  17. Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says

    May 25, 2012 at 11:29 am

    I love mac and cheese almost as much as I love cute pasta shapes! Awesome idea to add cajun flavors.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Kita! The mountain biking, travel junkie, professional freelance photographer, and creator behind the scenes.

More about me →

Search

Trending Recipes

  • The 9 Must-Have Cocktail Mixers for Your Home Bar
  • Toast to the Cold: How to Stock a Bar for the Best Winter Cocktails
  • Spicy Cucumber Martini
  • Banana Bread with Nutella Swirls

Current Wanderlust

  • Huckleberry Lemonade Vodka Cocktail Recipe

Footer

↑ back to top

Browse

  • Cocktail Recipes
  • Dinner Recipes
  • Dessert Recipes
  • Travel & Resources

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails & updates

Information

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2023 PasstheSushi