Cajun Macaroni and Cheese

Name: Cajun Macaroni and Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Cajun
Ingredients: 8 oz elbow macaroni; 8 oz andouille sausage, sliced; 3 tbsp unsalted butter; 1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced; 3 tbsp all-purpose flour; 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning; 2 cups whole milk; 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded; 1 cup Pepper Jack cheese, shredded

A rich and creamy baked macaroni and cheese spiced with Cajun seasoning, tender bell peppers, and smoky andouille sausage.

45 minMediumServes 4580 cal/serving

CajunDinnerStovetop and OvenStandardHigh ProteinNut-FreeEgg-FreeShellfish-FreeAlcohol-FreeCorn-Free

Ingredients

8 oz elbow macaroni
8 oz andouille sausage, sliced
3 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
2 cups whole milk
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup Pepper Jack cheese, shredded

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 375F. Boil 8 oz elbow macaroni in salted water according to package directions until al dente, then drain.
2

Heat an oven-safe skillet over medium heat and cook 8 oz sliced andouille sausage until browned and internal temperature reaches 165F, then remove sausage.
3

Melt 3 tbsp unsalted butter in the same skillet over medium heat, add 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper, and saute for 3 minutes until tender.
4

Whisk in 3 tbsp all-purpose flour and 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning, cooking for 1 minute to form a roux.
5

Gradually whisk in 2 cups whole milk and simmer until sauce thickens, about 3 to 4 minutes.
6

Remove from heat and stir in 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese and 1 cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese until melted, then fold in cooked pasta and sausage.
7

Bake at 375F for 15 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.

Questions

Can I make Cajun Macaroni and Cheese dairy-free?

Not cleanly. Here the dairy (3 tbsp unsalted butter, 2 cups whole milk, 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, 1 cup Pepper Jack cheese, shredded) is the backbone of the dish, and plant-based substitutes change both its texture and its flavor. If you need strictly dairy-free, start from the dairy-free dinner collection instead.

Can I make Cajun Macaroni and Cheese gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 8 oz elbow macaroni, 3 tbsp all-purpose flour. Swap the pasta for a gluten-free one, cooked a minute short of its package time; the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

How long does Cajun Macaroni and Cheese keep?

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within three days. Reheat covered in a 300 F oven until warmed through.

Can I halve or double Cajun Macaroni and Cheese?

Yes. As written it serves 4. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. Doubled, split it across two pans and rotate them halfway; one crowded pan bakes unevenly.

Serve it with

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