Cheddar Macaroni with Shrimp
Cheddar Macaroni with Shrimp balances rich, creamy cheese sauce with the gentle sweetness of tender salad shrimp, all baked under a crunchy panko topping. It’s comforting yet slightly spiced with Cajun seasoning, making each bite warm and balanced. Serve this cozy bake for a casual weeknight dinner or a relaxed weekend gathering when you want something familiar with a seafood twist.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook45 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Cheddar Macaroni with Shrimp, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 50 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 58 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 31
- Heart Health
- 57
- Metabolic
- 15
- Digestive
- 21
- Inflammatory
- 49
- Performance
- 32
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an oval au gratin dish.
- 2
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain.
- 3
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour to make a smooth paste. Gradually pour in milk while whisking to combine. Stir in 1/2 cup Cheddar, sour cream, and Cajun seasoning. Add the drained macaroni, then stir in the frozen shrimp until evenly mixed. Transfer to the prepared dish, then sprinkle panko and 2 tablespoons Cheddar on top.
- 4
Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly and golden, about 20 minutes.
- Calories 256.69 kcal Moderate 13%
- Protein 19.71 g Good Source 39%
- Carbohydrate 24.98 g 9%
- Total Fat 8.56 g Moderate 11%
- Saturated Fat 5.22 g High 26%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 120.52 mg High 40%
- Sodium 228.26 mg Moderate 10%
- Dietary Fiber 0.99 g Low Source 4%
- Total Sugars 3.02 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 175.84 mg Moderate 14%
- Iron 1.15 mg Low Source 6%
- Potassium 260.36 mg Low Source 6%
- Vitamin A 23.03 mcg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin C 0.0 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin D 0.54 mcg Low Source 3%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Shellfish 🦐
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
About This Recipe
Cheddar Macaroni with Shrimp is made with 9 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 55 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include 1% Low Fat Milk, All Purpose Flour, Cajun Seasoning, and Macaroni. Each serving provides about 256.69 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Cheddar Macaroni with Shrimp made of?
- The main ingredients are 1% Low-Fat Milk, All-Purpose Flour, Cajun Seasoning, Macaroni, Panko. The full list of 9 is above.
- How long does it take to make Cheddar Macaroni with Shrimp?
- About 55 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 45 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 256.69 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Cheddar Macaroni with Shrimp easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 9 ingredients and 4 steps.
- Is Cheddar Macaroni with Shrimp healthy?
- Cheddar Macaroni with Shrimp has an easyChef Pro health score of 38/100. Per serving, it provides 256.69 calories and 19.71 g of protein, or 39% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 228.26 mg (10% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 5.22 g (26% of the Daily Value). It contains Shellfish, Milk, Wheat and Gluten, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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