Cajun Shrimp Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 4 slices thick bacon WW - for the lowest points possible, lower this to 3 slices of bacon
- 2 green onions sliced
- 1 Tbsp. butter room temp - WW use Light Butter
- 2 Tbsp. flour
- 1 cup half and half - WW use Fat-Free
- 1 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning
- Water
- 2 cups medium sized peeled and tail off shrimp
- 1½ c shredded sharp cheddar cheese - WW use Kraft Natural Fat-Free Cheddar
- 2 c shredded Colby / jack cheese mix - WW use reduce fat Colby jack cheese To lower this even further, reduce cheese to 1 cup cheese
- 1/2 cup panko (breacrumbs - WW use whole wheat bread crumbs or eliminate the bread crumbs for an even lower point.
Directions
- Add a dash of salt to 1-quart water in a large pasta pot.
- Bring water to a boil, add pasta and cook according to the package directions.
- While the pasta is cooking, cook the bacon to a crisp so that it crumbles. Use a cast iron skillet or another oven-safe skillet.
- When the pasta is done, drain and set the pasta to the side.
- Slice your green onions.
- Set to the side.
- Use the same skillet from the bacon, add your butter.
- Melt butter on medium heat and then add your green onions. Cook 2 minutes.
- Add 2 Tbsp flour and cook 1 minute.
- 1Add your half and half and whisk to prevent clumps.
- 1Add Cajun seasoning and mix to combine.
- 1Add your crawfish tails and shrimp and stir often for 5 minutes.
- 1Add in the cheeses and stir until melted.
- 1Fold pasta and half of the bacon into the cheese sauce.
- 1Top the pasta mix with remaining bacon and bread crumbs.
- 1Turn your oven to broil.
- 1Place your pasta mix into the oven and toast for 5 minutes.
- 1Remove garnish with green onions slices.
- 1Allow to cool 5 minutes before serving.
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