Shrimp Mac and Cheese Recipe

Today’s shrimp mac and cheese is a more nutritious take on the simple, easy comfort food you love.

a Nutritious Comfort Food

Nothing screams ‘American Classic’ like a pot of sticky mac and cheese. It tastes so good and with just a few ingredients it is so simple anyone can make it without instructions.

Simplicity is beautiful, but it also allows for versatility. We used to think there was nothing special about lettuce and leafy greens, but things changed when ingredients like Ranch or bacon were added. Mac and cheese, delicious as they already are together, can be even tastier with the right additions.

Today’s recipe adds shrimp to the equation. We cook it with garlic, butter, and spices until a plethora of flavors are developed to their fullest. This concoction is then used as the base for our mac and cheese. It’s still that simple dish with ingredients you know and love, only packed with much more flavor.

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In short, if you need an easy, cheesy, nutritious meal, this mac and cheese shrimp is definitely worth your try. We also recommend other variations of Mac and Cheese, such as this Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe or this Macaroni Salad Recipe.

What Makes Shrimp Mac and Cheese Healthy?

The original recipe for macaroni and cheese brings plenty of refined carbs and fats to the table. In this way, it can form a part of a healthy diet, but it would be of more nutritional value should there be some proteins.

Shrimp happens to have just the right kind of proteins plus a small amount of omega-3 fatty acids. These are considered healthy fats known to reduce LDL cholesterol and have positive impacts on the brain.

Mac and cheese, however, tends to be high in saturated fats and calories, and that’s what makes it taste good. We realized that reducing the cheese to the amount we consider healthy greatly affected the taste, definitely not what we wanted.

As a last resort, we crafted this recipe until we found the most delicious ratio of ingredients and made it a side dish instead of a main dish. It does not have the most satisfying portion size as a side, but it does taste great and has a balanced nutritional profile. We suggest pairing it with cooked meats and a salad to make a full nutritious meal.

Ingredients You Will Need

For our shrimp mac and cheese, you’ll need cooked macaroni pasta, shrimp, cheddar cheese, milk, cream, garlic, flour, butter, and a few other ingredients.

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With the portion size reduced, we still have to use a moderate amount of cream to keep the saturated fats low. To replicate the exact creamy mouthfeel, we introduce all-purpose flour to the milk-cream mixture. As a result, the sauce thickens when heated, and since there is still real cream present, the authentic taste is maintained.

We also add some chicken broth instead of plain water for yet another layer of flavor.

Since the recipe includes shrimp, it’s also a great idea to use shrimp broth instead of chicken broth, and it’s super easy to make:

• Begin by cooking the shrimp peel in a pot with some canola oil until the bottom chars a little. Deglaze it with a splash of white wine, scrape the bottom, then add water to it and simmer for about 15 minutes.

Other ingredients you can use include garlic, paprika, and fresh parsley. Feel free to adjust the amounts to your liking.

Storing and Reheating the Leftovers

Once any leftovers have cooled to room temperature, cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 4 days. To reheat, transfer them to a room-temperature ramekin, and bake at 475°F for 5 minutes.

The leftovers can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Freezers tend to have less space than the refrigeration compartment, so we recommend transferring each serving into a Ziploc bag first. Reheat as you would with the refrigerated leftovers.

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Other Classic Shrimp Dishes to Try

• Shrimp Enchiladas Recipe
• Shrimp Cakes Recipe
• Shrimp Etouffee Recipe
• Shrimp Brochette Recipe

While you’re at it, give some of these Baked Shrimp Recipes a go as well.

Shrimp Mac and Cheese Recipe

5 from 1 vote

This shrimp mac and cheese recipe is a fine combination of everyone's favorite comfort food and shrimp. It takes 25 minutes, start to finish, and can be easily stored.

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• cook TIME 17 mins
• prep TIME 8 mins
• total TIME 25 mins

• COURSE Side Dish
• CUISINE American
• SERVINGS
  4

  servings
• CALORIES 231 kcal

INGREDIENTS

1x2x3x

• 6 oz peeled shrimp (from 12 oz raw shrimp)
• 6 oz cooked macaroni
• 0.5 oz grated cheddar
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 tbsp heavy cream
• 1/4 cup unsalted chicken broth
• 4 tsp all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 2 tbsp parsley (minced)

INSTRUCTIONS

Image instructions

1

Cut 6 oz peeled shrimp into bite-sized pieces.

2

Melt 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat, and sauté 1 tbsp garlic in it for 30 seconds.

3

Add the chopped shrimp in and stir to cook for 2 minutes.

4

Stir in 1/4 tsp paprika and 4 tsp all-purpose flour.

5

Pour in 1 cup whole milk, 1 tbsp heavy cream, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 cup unsalted broth. Simmer on low heat for 3 minutes.

6

Add 6 oz cooked macaroni in and cook on medium heat for 2 minutes or until the mixture thickens, like so. While it’s simmering, preheat the oven to 480°F.

7

Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions, and place each portion into a ramekin.

8

Sprinkle 0.5 oz cheddar on top of the ramekins, then slide into the oven and bake for 7 minutes.

9

Garnish with 2 tbsp parsley and enjoy.

NUTRITION

Nutrition Facts

Shrimp Mac and Cheese Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 231Calories from Fat 63

% Daily Value*

Fat 7g

11%

Saturated Fat 4g

25%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 2g

Cholesterol 156mg

52%

Sodium 299mg

13%

Potassium 373mg

11%

Carbohydrate 19g

6%

Fiber 1g

4%

Sugar 3g

3%

Protein 23g

46%

Vitamin A 426IU

9%

Vitamin C 3mg

4%

Calcium 168mg

17%

Iron 1mg

6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keywords: how to make shrimp mac and cheese, shrimp mac and cheese, shrimp mac and cheese recipe