Seafood Mac and Cheese Recipe: Creamy Baked Comfort Food

Seafood Mac and Cheese Recipe: Creamy Baked Comfort Food

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb elbow macaroni
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
• 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups whole milk
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 tsp dried mustard powder
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 4 oz Gruyère cheese, shredded
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 lb raw large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 8 oz lump crab meat, drained
• 1 cup cooked lobster meat, chopped

Seasonings & Flavors

• 1 tsp dried mustard powder
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• Salt to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Optional

• Buttered panko breadcrumbs
• Fresh chopped parsley
• Extra lobster meat
• Truffle oil drizzle

Instructions

1. 1Preheat oven and prepare baking dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Butter a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Get your pasta water boiling and heavily salt it.
2. 2Cook the pasta: Cook elbow macaroni 1-2 minutes less than package directions until al dente. Drain and toss with 1 tablespoon butter to prevent sticking. Set aside.
3. 3Make the roux: In a large Dutch oven or deep skillet, melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add onion and sauté 3-4 minutes until translucent. Stir in garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant. Whisk in flour and cook for 2 minutes—the mixture should smell nutty but not brown.
4. 4Build the cheese sauce: Slowly whisk in milk and cream. Add mustard powder, smoked paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer, whisking constantly, and cook 4-5 minutes until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat. Stir in cream cheese until fully melted, then fold in cheddar and Gruyère a handful at a time until smooth. Watch for low heat—cheese added to boiling sauce will turn grainy.
5. 5Prep the seafood: Pat shrimp dry. In a separate skillet, quickly sauté shrimp over high heat for 1 minute per side just until pink—they’ll finish cooking in the oven. Gently fold shrimp, crab, and lobster into the cheese sauce along with the pasta.
6. 6Assemble and top: Pour mixture into the buttered dish. If using breadcrumb topping, melt 1 tablespoon butter and toss with 1 cup panko, then scatter over the top. The butter helps it brown evenly.
7. 7Bake to perfection: Bake 25-30 minutes until bubbly and golden on top. You’ll see cheese sauce bubbling at the edges. Remove and let rest 5 minutes before serving so the sauce sets.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: Toast your panko breadcrumbs in a dry pan until golden before buttering them—this ensures extra crunch.
• Best substitution: No lobster? Use extra shrimp or crab. Scallops also work beautifully. For a budget version, use imitation crab—texture differs but flavor is mild.
• Make-ahead: Prepare the cheese sauce and cook the pasta up to 1 day ahead. Combine, add seafood, and bake fresh. Breadcrumbs go on just before baking.
• Scaling: Double the recipe for a crowd and use a large roasting pan. Extend baking time by 5-10 minutes until bubbly in the center.
• Troubleshooting: Grainy sauce: You added cheese with the heat too high. Remove from flame, stir in cream cheese or a splash of cold milk, and whisk vigorously. Next time, let the base cool for 2 minutes before adding cheese.

Nutrition Per Serving