Cajun Shrimp Mac and Cheese

This macaroni and cheese gets elevated by the addition of shrimp. It partially cooks in the Instant Pot® and is finished in the oven. Please shred cheese yourself; if you use pre-shredded cheese, it will not be creamy.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 509 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• 1 ½ tablespoons butter
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• nonstick cooking spray
• 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 shallot, finely chopped
• ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup panko bread crumbs
• ½ teaspoon seafood seasoning (such as Old Bay®)
• 1 teaspoon seafood seasoning (such as Old Bay®)
• ¼ cup whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
• ½ teaspoon Creole seasoning
• 2 cups pipe rigate pasta
• 1 ½ cups cooked medium shrimp
• ⅓ cup shredded Fontina cheese

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function. Melt butter in the pot. Add shallot and garlic; saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Hit Cancel button and allow the cooker to cool.

Step 2

Pour in pasta and stir to coat with shallot-butter sauce. Add milk and whipping cream. Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 10 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.

Step 3

Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, for 10 minutes. Use the quick-release method to release remaining pressure. Unlock and remove the lid.

Step 4

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat an 8x8-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.

Step 5

Add evaporated milk, cooked shrimp, cheeses, seafood seasoning, and Creole seasoning to the pasta mixture; mix to thoroughly combine. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish.

Step 6

Mix panko, seafood seasoning, and Creole seasoning together for the crumb topping. Mix in melted butter. Spread over casserole dish.

Step 7

Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling, about 5 minutes. Switch on the broiler and broil until top of casserole is golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes.