Cajun Mac & Cheese
Dinner DishesCheesy with a kick, this dish will have you coming back for thirds.
Recipe by Pro Basketball Player and Registered Dietitian Briana Butler
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1⁄2 cup diced yellow onions
- 1⁄2 cup chopped red bell peppers
- 1⁄2 cup chopped green bell peppers
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons canola oil
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salted butter
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 cups milk, 2% fat
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1⁄4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1⁄2 16-oz box elbow pasta (macaroni)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
DIRECTIONS
Cajun Mac & Cheese
- In a medium skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Add in garlic, bell peppers and onion, and sauté until tender. Set aside.
- In a saucepot, heat butter and canola oil over medium-high heat until butter melts.
- Reduce to medium heat and sprinkle in flour, whisking vigorously until well combined.
- Slowly add in milk, consistently stirring to keep the sauce smooth.
- Add in Cajun seasoning, nutritional yeast, and Parmesan cheese and whisk until thickened.
- When thick, reduce heat to a simmer and occasionally stir until pasta is ready.
- Prepare elbow pasta per box instructions.
- Once the pasta is ready, toss it into a bowl with the cream sauce and skillet vegetables, and mix until well combined.
- Top with parsley and enjoy!
Tips
- As an alternative, you can always swap the Parmesan with cheddar cheese! Both taste great.
- This dish may also be topped with chicken or shrimp as an added protein kick if desired.
- For the Cajun seasoning, I use store-bought. But if you are not in a time crunch, you can always make this from scratch!
NUTRITION
Protein 11g, Total Fat 6.3g, Carbs 40g, Calories 262kcal, Fiber 2.72g, Calcium 162mg, Iron 1.92mg, Folate 259DFE, Fruits 0 servings, Vegetables 0.29 servings, Saturated Fat 2.63g, Sodium 163mg, Added Sugar 0g.
