Easy Cajun Mac & Cheese with Kielbasa
This easy Cajun mac and cheese recipe makes a hearty meal that’s sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it! Flavorful and super easy to make, this creamy macaroni and cheese is perfect for weeknight suppers, mardi gras, dinner parties, potlucks, and more! It makes the ultimate comfort food and is sure to hit with the whole family.
I’m back with another mac and cheese recipe, it’s almost funny, I’ve spent most of my life hating this dish, and now I can’t seem to stop making it. Okay, that’s a bit of a stretch. This is, in fact, only the second mac and cheese recipe I’ve created, but coming from someone who’s never really cared for mac and cheese, that still seems like a lot.
In my mind, this Cajun mac and cheese recipe takes homemade mac and cheese to the next level. It’s just as creamy, cheesy, and delicious as any baked mac and cheese recipe. But with the addition of extra spices and smoky kielbasa, this recipe is in a completely different ballpark!
With its rich and creamy sauce, loads of shredded cheese, this mac and cheese is baked to golden perfection, and honestly, just super yummy! I don’t feel I even need to mention how easy it is to make, or that it’s perfect for any occasion.
My family absolutely loved this recipe, which, if you have younger siblings, you understand that means this mac and cheese must be good! Even my baby sister, who hates mac and cheese, liked it.
I was happy enough to create a traditional mac and cheese recipe that got the stamp of approval from my mostly picky family. I was honestly surprised by how much they loved this Cajun version. And I can’t really think of a better selling point than that!
Cajun Mac & Cheese with Kielbasa
Ingredients
- pasta of choice, I like to use shells or elbow pasta. Short pastas work best for this recipe, but any of your favorite shapes/styles will work!
- salted butter
- all-purpose flour
- evaporated milk
- whole milk
- shredded sharp cheddar cheese, I recommend buying blocks of cheese and shredding them yourself.
- shredded Colby cheese, again, I recommend buying blocks of cheese and shredding them yourself.
- sea salt
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- paprika
- oregano
- Cajun seasoning, I like to use my homemade Cajun seasoning blend!
- freshly ground black pepper
- kielbasa, sliced and cut into a half-moon shape.
- green onions, optional.
How To Make Cajun Mac & Cheese
Heat a large pot of salted water over medium-high heat. Once the water is boiling, add your pasta and cook for 1 minute less than al dente according to the package instructions.
Once the noodles are cooked, drain and rinse under cold water(to keep them from sticking) and set aside until ready to use.
In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, over medium heat, cook your kielbasa slices until they are sizzling and nicely browned. Remove the kielbasa from the pan and set aside until ready to use.
In the same pan, melt your butter. Once the butter is completely melted, add the flour and whisk until smooth. Slowly pour the evaporated milk and the whole milk into the pan, whisking continually.
Keep whisking until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Add the seasoning and spices and whisk to combine. Then remove the pan from the heat.
Add the shredded cheese, roughly 1 cup at a time(be sure to save a little cheese for sprinkling on top!), whisking each portion of cheese until it is completely melted.
Once all the cheese has been melted, add the kielbasa and stir to combine. Then add the noodles, and stir until everything is completely coated in the creamy cheese sauce.
Transfer your mac and cheese to a 9 x 13 baking dish, top with shredded cheese and green onions(if using), and bake at 350 degrees F. for 15-20 minutes. Or until the sauce is hot and bubbly and the top is golden brown.
Remove the mac and cheese from the oven and allow it to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Any leftover Cajun macaroni and cheese can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days!
I love using kielbasa for this recipe, but you can also use smoked sausage, spicy andouille sausage, or any spicy smoked pork sausage. You can even use seasoned diced chicken or leave the meat out altogether.
You can also use pretty much can kind of cheese you like for this recipe. Pepper jack cheese, Monterey jack cheese, mozzarella cheese, mild cheddar, white cheddar cheese, and even Velveeta cheese will all work great!.
Feel free to add any additional veggies or meat to this recipe as well. Bell peppers, yellow onion, Brussels sprouts, and celery are all delicious. You can also top this mac and cheese with plain panko bread crumbs.
Looking for more Cajun Recipes? Be Sure To Check Out These!
Spicy Cajun Chicken Sandwich Recipe
Homemade Dirty Rice(Cajun rice recipe)
Cajun Mac & Cheese with Kielbasa
Ingredients
- 1 lb pasta of choice I like to use shells or elbow pasta. Short pastas work best for this recipe, but any of your favorite shapes/styles will work!
- 1/4 cup salted butter
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 12-oz can evaporated milk
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese I recommend buying blocks of cheese and shredding them yourself.
- 2 cups shredded Colby cheese I recommend buying blocks of cheese and shredding them yourself.
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning I like to use my homemade Cajun seasoning blend!
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 16 oz kielbasa sliced and cut into a half-moon shape.
- green onions optional
Instructions
- Heat a large pot of salted water over medium-high heat. Once the water is boiling, add your pasta and cook for 1 minute less than al dente according to the package instructions.
- Once the noodles are cooked, drain and rinse under cold water(to keep them from sticking) and set aside until ready to use.
- In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, over medium heat, cook your kielbasa slices until they are sizzling and nicely browned. Remove the kielbasa from the pan and set aside until ready to use.
- In the same pan, melt your butter. Once the butter is completely melted, add the flour and whisk until smooth. Slowly pour the evaporated milk and the whole milk into the pan, whisking continually.
- Keep whisking until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Add the seasoning and spices and whisk to combine. Then remove the pan from the heat.
- Add the shredded cheese, roughly 1 cup at a time(be sure to save a little cheese for sprinkling on top!), whisking each portion of cheese until it is completely melted.
- Once all the cheese has been melted, add the kielbasa and stir to combine. Then add the noodles, and stir until everything is completely coated in the creamy cheese sauce.
- Transfer your mac and cheese to a 9 x 13 baking dish, top with shredded cheese and green onions(if using), and bake at 350 degrees F. for 15-20 minutes. Or until the sauce is hot and bubbly and the top is golden brown.
- Remove the mac and cheese from the oven and allow it to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
