Shrimp Mac and Cheese with Gouda Cheese
This creamy shrimp mac and cheese is made in a large skillet with a silky cheese sauce of white cheddar, Gouda, and Swiss, then finished golden brown under the broiler. Loaded with succulent shrimp, buttery garlic, and a perfect cheese blend, it’s a main course that brings comfort food to special occasions with a little kick of flavor. (Double the recipe for a 12-inch skillet).
Servings 4 servings
Calories: 784kcal
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- ½ pound rigatoni pasta or penne, macaroni
- kosher salt
For the Shrimp
- ½ pound Trader Joe's Argentinian Red Shrimp or regular shrimp
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ lemon juiced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- kosher salt and ground black pepper
For the Sauce
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ small onion finely chopped
- ½ red bell pepper finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups evaporated milk
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- kosher salt and ground black pepper
Cheeses
- 1 cup white cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ cup Gouda cheese shredded
- ½ cup Swiss cheese shredded
For Assembly & Garnish
- ¼ cup Ritz crackers butter crackers
- ¼ cup parsley chopped
Equipment
Instructions
- Save Time in the Kitchen: Read the instructions thoroughly, then gather and prep all your ingredients before cooking! Learn Prepping Tips.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook Shrimp in the Cast Iron Pan: Heat olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp, lemon juice, a pinch of salt, pepper, and half the garlic. Cook 1–2 minutes per side until just opaque. Remove and roughly chop half of the shrimp, leaving the rest whole for topping.
- Start the Sauce Base: In the same pan, reduce the heat to medium. Melt butter, then add onion, remaining garlic, and bell pepper. Sauté until softened. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute to form a roux.
- Build the White Sauce: Slowly whisk in evaporated milk and heavy cream until smooth. Stir in Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- Add Cheese, Pasta & Shrimp: Lower heat and stir in all cheeses except a small handful reserved for topping. Fold in the pasta, chopped parsley (about 2 tbsp), and the chopped half of the shrimp. Mix until creamy and well-coated.
- Top & Broil: Nestle the remaining whole shrimp across the top of the pasta. Sprinkle with reserved cheese, Ritz crumbs, and parmesan. Place under the broiler for 2–3 minutes until the top is golden and bubbling.
- Garnish & Serve: Remove from oven, garnish with the remaining fresh parsley, and serve hot straight from the skillet.
Notes
The total cook time can be reduced by boiling the pasta simultaneously while the shrimp sears in the recipe, cutting the time down to 8-10 minutes.
Nutrition
Calories: 784kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 198mg | Sodium: 924mg | Potassium: 656mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 1981IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 848mg | Iron: 2mg
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