Cajun Chicken Mac and Cheese, inspired by Louisiana cuisine, features a rich and zesty cheese sauce, complemented by a crispy panko breadcrumb topping. This dish serves as a flavorful and spicy option for a weeknight family meal.
I truly love Cajun and Creole Seasoning and can’t resist adding it to my dishes. Recently, while baking macaroni and cheese, the thought of creating a Cajun-style version struck me. Today, I’m thrilled to share my recipe for Cajun mac and cheese, featuring a delicious blend of Cajun spice mix, creamy American cream cheese, and crispy panko breadcrumbs.
How great would it be to enjoy this tonight alongside some Cajun Fries? I know this combo is unbeatable!
Why You Will Love This Recipe?
Simple and Quick: While the recipe may look long, it’s actually quite simple. Just pan-fry the chicken pieces with sautéed garlic and Cajun spices. Meanwhile, whip up a creamy Cajun cheese sauce. Combine it all with al dente macaroni, chicken, and sauce, then top it off with panko breadcrumbs for a deliciously crusty finish in the oven.
Comforting Dinner: There’s something so comforting about this hot and spicy mac and cheese that always hits the spot when I’m craving pasta.
Family Favorite: My son can’t get enough of the crunchy topping, and we’re all in love with the creamy, tangy macaroni mixed with tender, juicy chicken. It’s the ideal recipe for a family dinner that everyone enjoys.
Versatile: This recipe is super easy to customize! You can throw in some veggies, mushrooms, sausages, or any type of meat you like. Experimenting with different cheeses can also add exciting new flavors.
SEE ALSO: Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe (Without spice)
Ingredients & Substitutions
Macaroni (elbow): This groovy pasta shape is essential for mac and cheese, but feel free to swap in any pasta you prefer without altering the flavor.
Chicken: Juicy, tender pieces of Cajun-seasoned chicken bring a delightful taste to this dish.
Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is used to sauté the chicken to perfection.
Butter: Unsalted butter is incorporated to create a rich cheese sauce.
Cajun Seasoning: A spice blend of 1 tablespoon Paprika Powder, ⅓ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper, ⅓ teaspoon Black Pepper, ⅓ teaspoon White Pepper, ½ teaspoon Onion Powder, ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder, ⅓ teaspoon Dried Oregano, ⅓ teaspoon Dried Thyme, ½ teaspoon Salt
Flour: Any all-purpose white flour works well for making the traditional roux that thickens the sauce.
Milk: Full-fat milk is used to achieve a smooth and creamy cheese sauce, ensuring the right consistency.
Cheese: For the ultimate macaroni cheese sauce, sharp cheddar, cream cheese, gouda, and American Velveeta are the top choices, creating a wonderfully creamy base for various dips, dressings, and sauces.
Panko Breadcrumbs: These Japanese-style breadcrumbs provide a light, flaky texture that remains crispy for longer.
How to Make Cajun Chicken Mac and Cheese
Step 1: Al Dente Macaroni
Begin by adding your macaroni or any pasta you prefer to a pot filled with salted boiling water.
Let it cook for approximately 8 to 10 minutes until it reaches a tender yet slightly chewy texture. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it under cold tap water, then place it in a strainer to remove any excess moisture.
Step 2: Sauté the Cajun Chicken
In a skillet, heat some olive oil and sauté the chicken pieces over high heat for about 2 to 3 minutes.
As the chicken begins to change color, sprinkle in garlic powder, onion powder, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Stir everything well and continue cooking on medium heat for another 2 to 3 minutes.
[Tip]: Since the chicken pieces are small, they should become tender in about 5 to 6 minutes. If you're using larger pieces, cover the pan for about 5 minutes to help them cook through.
Once done, transfer the chicken to a plate and use the same skillet to prepare the sauce.
Step 3: Preparation of Cheese Sauce
Start by heating a pan and melting some butter over medium heat.
Once melted, sprinkle in garlic powder and all-purpose flour, cooking for about a minute until the flour takes on a light brown hue. Remember to keep stirring!
Next, pour in the milk and quickly mix it to create a smooth sauce. It's important to maintain medium heat to prevent the sauce from thickening too quickly.
Season your sauce with Cajun spices, salt, and pepper, and stir well to ensure everything is nicely combined.
Continue stirring, and as the sauce thickens, add in cream cheese and sharp cheddar cheese. Allow the cheeses to blend into the sauce over medium heat, stirring continuously until you achieve a thick and creamy cheesy sauce.
Step 4: Assembling (Cajun Chicken + Macaroni + Cheese Sauce)
Next, add the boiled macaroni and the Cajun-spiced chicken we made earlier. Stir everything together until it's nicely blended with the sauce.
Step 5: Bake the Mac n Cheese
Start by preheating your oven.
Pour the macaroni and cheese sauce into a baking dish.
Sprinkle panko bread crumbs and cheddar cheese on top.
Bake it at 440°F for around 20 minutes. Once it's done, take it out and enjoy it hot.
Cajun Mac and Cheese is all set to serve.
Watch Video
Recipe Tips
- A great tip for achieving creamy mac and cheese is to slightly undercook the pasta. If the pasta needs 8 minutes to cook fully, aim for about 7 minutes for that perfect al dente texture. The last bit of cooking will happen while it bakes, ensuring the pasta shells have just the right bite. If you're concerned about ending up with mushy pasta, this method is a game changer.
- To prevent the mac and cheese from drying out, be sure to add plenty of sauce, using more milk than flour in your recipe. A higher flour content can lead to a thicker sauce, which might not be what you want.
- Cajun mac and cheese packs a spicy punch compared to the classic version, so adjust the spice level according to your taste when adding Cajun seasoning. For an extra kick, consider mixing in some cayenne pepper. If you're making it for kids or prefer a milder flavor, just use less Cajun seasoning.
- Cajun seasoning can be substituted with creole and Old Bay seasoning.
- Sometimes, the roux can turn lumpy, but I’ve found a simple fix. Start by whisking in a bit of warm milk to smooth it out. Once it’s nice and creamy, add more milk and stir vigorously to achieve a thick, consistent sauce. This technique works wonders for all kinds of cheese sauces.
- Avoid using pre-shredded cheese from the store. It might sound odd, but the anti-caking agents in those cheeses can lead to a less cheesy mac and cheese experience.
- For a delicious crust, leave the baking dish uncovered while it cooks.
- If you're using regular breadcrumbs, make your own crumbs on a cutting board. Aim for larger flakes and toast them before layering them in the baking dish for added flavor and texture.
- And if you have any leftover blackened chicken, toss it into your mac and cheese before baking. It will elevate the dish to a whole new level of deliciousness!
How To Store and Reheat
Storing leftover Cajun mac and cheese is quite easy! Just transfer it to an airtight glass container and pop it in the fridge, where it will stay fresh for up to 3 days. Be sure not to keep it longer, as the cheese sauce might alter in flavor.
If you prefer, you can also place it in a Ziploc bag and freeze it for up to 15 days.
Reheating Refrigerated Mac & Cheese
To reheat the mac and cheese from the fridge, simply move it to a preheated skillet. Add a splash of milk to prevent it from sticking or burning. Cover the skillet and let it simmer on low heat for about 5 minutes. After that, give it a good stir with a spatula before serving. For an extra touch, you can sprinkle some panko on top and broil it at 420°F for 5 to 10 minutes to achieve a crispy crust.
Reheating the Frozen Mac and Cheese
To defrost the frozen mac and cheese, microwave it for 3 to 4 minutes. Then, transfer it to an oven-safe dish, sprinkle with panko breadcrumbs, and bake or broil at 425°F for around 10 minutes. Enjoy!
What to Serve with Mac and Cheese
- Coleslaw
- Cajun Fries
- Corns
- Fruit Salad
- Roasted Veggies: Fire roasted diced tomatoes or honey hot carrots
- Sauteed Chickpeas
- Roasted Potatoes
- BBQ sauce and Parmesan dip makes the perfect flavor.
Q & A
Cajun mac and cheese is already spicy in taste. If you want to make it more spicy add Cayenne peppers as per the taste. Hot sauce can also be used to make it spicy.
Yes, you can! You can serve it after combining Cajun chicken, macaroni, and cheese sauce. Mix it well and serve hot.
Use Old Bay or creole seasoning. Otherwise, use paprika with cayenne and Italian seasoning.
More Cajun Recipes
If you are looking forward to try this baked Cajun Chicken Mac and Cheese recipe or something else, then don’t forget to Rate the Recipe by clicking on stars and ask your query in comment section. I would love to reply to make your experience successful. It will be encouraging if you share your recipe shots with me to share on stories on Instagram.
Cajun Chicken Mac and Cheese (Baked)
Ingredients
- 200 g Macaroni Pasta Al dente (Boiled)
For Cajun Chicken
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 100 g Chicken boneless
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- 2 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- For Cajun Sauce:
- 2 tablespoon Butter unsalted
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 tablespoon White Flour
- 1.5 Cups Milk Full fat
- 1 tablespoon CAjun Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 30 g Cream Cheese
- 200 g Cheddar Cheese
Topping
- 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
- ½ cup Cheddar Cheese diced/shredded
Instructions
Al Dente Macaroni Pasta
- Place the macaroni or your preferred pasta into a pot filled with boiling salted water.
- Let it cook for approximately 8 to 10 minutes until it reaches your desired tenderness or chewiness. Once done, drain the water and rinse the macaroni under tap water, then set it in a strainer to remove any extra moisture.
Cook Cajun Chicken
- In a pan, add olive oil and sauté the chicken pieces over high heat for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Once the chicken begins to change color, sprinkle in garlic powder, onion powder, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir everything well and let it cook for another 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat.
- [Tip]: Since the chicken pieces are small, they should become tender in about 5 to 6 minutes. If you're using larger pieces, cover the pan and let them cook for about 5 minutes to ensure they become tender.
- Next, transfer the chicken to a plate and use the same pan to prepare the sauce.
Prepare the Cheese Sauce
- In a hot pan, melt some butter over medium heat. Sprinkle in garlic powder and all-purpose flour, cooking for about a minute until the flour takes on a light brown hue. Remember to keep stirring!
- Next, pour in the milk and quickly mix it to create a smooth sauce. Ensure the heat remains medium; otherwise, the sauce may thicken too quickly.
- Season your sauce with Cajun spices, salt, and pepper, and stir well to blend all the flavors.
- Continue stirring, and as the sauce thickens, add in cream cheese and sharp cheddar cheese.
- Allow it to blend on medium heat, stirring consistently to achieve a rich and creamy cheesy sauce.
Assembling
- Now add boiled macaroni pasta and Cajun spiced chicken that we prepared.
- Mix it well to combine with sauce.
Bake the Pasta
- Preheat the oven at 440°F
- Set the macaroni and cheese sauce in a baking dish.
- Topped with panko bread crumbs and cheddar cheese.
- Bake for about 20 minutes.
- Take it out and serve it hot. Cajun Mac and Cheese is ready!
Video
Notes
- A great tip for achieving creamy mac and cheese is to slightly undercook the pasta. If the pasta needs 8 minutes to cook fully, aim for about 7 minutes for that perfect al dente texture. The last bit of cooking will happen while it bakes, ensuring the pasta shells have just the right consistency. If you're concerned about ending up with mushy pasta, this method is a game changer.
- To prevent your mac and cheese from drying out, be sure to add plenty of sauce, using more milk than flour in your recipe. A higher flour content can lead to a thicker sauce, which might not be what you want. When it comes to Cajun mac and cheese, remember that it packs more heat than the classic version. Adjust the spice level by controlling the amount of Cajun seasoning you add. For an extra kick, consider mixing in some cayenne pepper, but if you're cooking for kids, use less Cajun seasoning for a milder flavor.
- You can also swap Cajun seasoning for Creole or Old Bay seasoning if you prefer.
- If your roux turns lumpy, don’t worry! A simple fix is to whisk in a bit of warm milk to smooth it out. Once it’s nice and creamy, add more milk and stir vigorously to achieve a thick, consistent sauce. This technique works wonders for any cheese sauce.
- Avoid using pre-shredded cheese from the store, as the anti-caking agents can prevent that gooey, cheesy goodness we all love.
- For a crispy topping, leave the baking dish uncovered. If you're using regular breadcrumbs, make your own by crushing them on a cutting board into larger flakes and toasting them before layering them on top. And if you have any leftover blackened chicken, toss it into the mac and cheese for an incredible flavor boost!
Hinz
Simple and easy recipe of cajun mac and cheese with chicken. How do you make it? Love to hear!