Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsThe Little Village - DowntownSpicy Mac & Cheese Recipe

Spicy Mac & Cheese Recipe

Time1h
Serves6

with Crawfish

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Ingredients

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Pasta

Method

Pasta Preparation

  1. 1

    Cook the Pasta

    In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Cheese Sauce Preparation

  1. 2

    Make the Roux

    In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Once melted, whisk in the all-purpose flour and cook for about 2 minutes until bubbly and lightly golden.

  2. 3

    Add Milk

    Gradually whisk in the milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Continue to cook until the mixture thickens, about 5-7 minutes.

  3. 4

    Add the Cheeses

    Remove from heat and stir in the sharp cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and cream cheese until melted and smooth.

  4. 5

    Season the Sauce

    Stir in the hot sauce, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper to taste.

Combine Ingredients

  1. 6

    Mix in Crawfish and Pasta

    In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked macaroni and the cheese sauce. Gently fold in the cooked crawfish tails until evenly distributed.

Topping Preparation

  1. 7

    Prepare the Topping

    In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, and melted butter. Mix until the breadcrumbs are well coated.

Bake

  1. 8

    Assemble and Bake

    Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Transfer the mac and cheese mixture to a greased baking dish. Sprinkle the breadcrumb topping evenly over the pasta. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.

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