Seafood Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is one of those dishes that can be either simple comfort food for a chilly evening or something with gourmet status, either served by itself or as an exquisite side dish for something like a strip steak or T-bone. The following recipe was designed with seafood lovers in mind, as it contains crab as well as shrimp. Of course, as you’re cooking it you could use all crab or all shrimp. Or even all lobster! Or mix and match other kinds of seafood and shellfish if you want to.

Sometimes it can be great fun to get creative in the kitchen and this is certainly a recipe you can have plenty of fun with. Even if you’re not into seafood, you can still make it, perhaps adding chicken, lamb or anything else you want. Pretty much any protein you can think of goes wonderfully with macaroni and cheese.

This seafood mac and cheese recipe is so good. It’s not difficult to make and the combination of macaroni, creamy cheese sauce and seafood makes this a suitable dish for absolutely any occasion when are all out to impress.

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Why You’ll Love the Recipe ?

Seafood mac and cheese blends a classic comfort food style dish with seafood and the result is so delicious. Crab and shrimp pairs with the rich and creamy cheese mixture and macaroni pasta for an elegant result.

How to Serve It ?

Enjoy this seafood mac and cheese recipe warm from the oven. You can either make it as a side for red meat or else enjoy it by itself.

Can You Make It Ahead?

You can prepare and layer the dish ahead and then keep it covered and refrigerated until you’re ready to bake it.

Storage Instructions :

Leftovers will be good for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 8 ounces lump crab meat
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
• 1 pound raw shrimp cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• ½ cup shredded parmesan
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Cooking spray, as needed

Optional Ingredients:

• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning

How to make Seafood Mac and Cheese:

Step 1. Follow the directions on the package to cook the pasta, then drain and rinse.

Step 2. Heat a skillet and add a tablespoon of butter.

Step 3. Let the butter melt and then add the Old Bay seasoning, shrimp and, if using, the Cajun seasoning.

Step 4. Cook for a few minutes on each side until done.

Step 5. Stir in the crab, then take the mixture off the heat.

Step 6. Heat another skillet and add 4 tablespoons of butter.

Step 7.  Let it melt and then whisk in the flour, bit by bit.

Step 8.  When the flour is mixed in completely and you have a smooth roux, stir in the cream and milk.

Step 9.  Add half the cheeses, along with the cream cheese if using.

Step 10.  Stir in the onion powder and add salt and black pepper to taste.

Step 11. Now combine the cooked pasta with the cheese sauce.

Step 12. Stir in the seafood as well as the remaining butter in the seafood pan.

Step 13. Check the taste and season a little more if necessary.

Step 14. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Step 15. Grease a 13×9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.

Step 16. Add some of the pasta mixture and then a layer of shredded cheese.

Step 17. Repeat once or twice more.

Step 18. Bake for around 30 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the top is golden.

Step 19. Let the seafood mac and cheese rest for 10 minutes and then serve.

Seafood Mac and Cheese

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Additional Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 2 minutes

This seafood mac and cheese recipe is so good.It’s not difficult to make and the combination of macaroni, creamy cheese sauceand seafood makes this a suitable dish for absolutely any occasion when are allout to impress.

Print

Ingredients

• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 8 ounces lump crab meat
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
• 1 pound raw shrimp cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• ½ cup shredded parmesan
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Cooking spray, as needed

Instructions

1. Follow the directions on the package to cook the pasta, then drain and rinse.
2. Heat a skillet and add a tablespoon of butter.
3. Let the butter melt and then add the Old Bay seasoning, shrimp and, if using, the Cajun seasoning.
4. Cook for a few minutes on each side until done.
5. Stir in the crab, then take the mixture off the heat.
6. Heat another skillet and add 4 tablespoons of butter.
7. Let it melt and then whisk in the flour, bit by bit.
8. When the flour is mixed in completely and you have a smooth roux, stir in the cream and milk.
9. Add half the cheeses, along with the cream cheese if using.
10. Stir in the onion powder and add salt and black pepper to taste.
11. Now combine the cooked pasta with the cheese sauce.
12. Stir in the seafood as well as the remaining butter in the seafood pan.
13. Check the taste and season a little more if necessary.
14. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
15. Grease a 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
16. Add some of the pasta mixture and then a layer of shredded cheese.
17. Repeat once or twice more.
18. Bake for around 30 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the top is golden.
19. Let the seafood mac and cheese rest for 10 minutes and then serve.

Notes

Variations and Substitutions :
Use any type of cheese to make this seafood macaroni cheese recipe. You can also add extra cheese if you want yours extra-cheesy! Swap the real crab for crabsticks for a budget version. You can use a non-dairy milk if you prefer.

Nutrition Information

Yield 8 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 654Total Fat 44gSaturated Fat 26gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 13gCholesterol 224mgSodium 1198mgCarbohydrates 27gFiber 1gSugar 5gProtein 37g

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