Description
A decadent seafood macaroni and cheese featuring lobster, crab, and shrimp with a creamy cheese sauce and a golden, crispy cheese crust. Perfect for special dinners and seafood lovers.
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (half for sauce, half for crust)
- 1 cup cooked lobster meat, chopped
- 1 cup cooked crab meat
- 1 cup cooked shrimp, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook until just al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet or saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Sprinkle in flour and whisk constantly for 2-3 minutes to cook out raw taste, forming a roux.
- Slowly whisk in milk and heavy cream, stirring until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 4-5 minutes. Lower heat if sauce bubbles too vigorously.
- Remove pan from heat. Stir in shredded cheddar, Gruyère, and half of the Parmesan until melted and smooth.
- Add Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Fold in cooked lobster, crab, shrimp, and drained pasta gently to keep seafood chunky.
- In a small bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs with remaining Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle evenly over mac and cheese in a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Drizzle 1 tablespoon melted butter over breadcrumbs.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until top is golden brown and sauce is bubbling.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
[‘Do not skip the roux to ensure a thick and creamy sauce.’, ‘Use freshly shredded cheese for best melting and smooth sauce.’, ‘Fold seafood gently to keep chunks intact.’, ‘Butter the breadcrumbs before baking for a golden, crispy crust.’, ‘Watch the oven in the last 10 minutes to prevent burning the crust; cover with foil if needed.’, ‘Assemble ahead and refrigerate up to 24 hours; bring to room temperature before baking.’, ‘Add a splash of milk or cream if sauce is too thick before adding seafood.’, ‘Use gluten-free pasta and substitutes for gluten-free or dairy-free variations.’]
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: lobster mac and cheese, seafood macaroni and cheese, crab mac and cheese, shrimp mac and cheese, crispy cheese crust, comfort food, seafood recipe