Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this creamy and flavorful seafood mac and cheese recipe. Loaded with tender shrimp, lump crab meat, and a blend of three cheeses, every bite is a taste of pure decadence.
Ingredients
Scale
Macaroni:
- 12 ounces elbow macaroni
Cheese Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2½ cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seafood Mix-In:
- 8 ounces lump crab meat (picked over)
- 8 ounces cooked shrimp (peeled, deveined, and chopped)
- ¼ cup chopped green onions
Topping:
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook Macaroni: Cook elbow macaroni until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Make Cheese Sauce: In a saucepan, melt butter, whisk in flour, then gradually add milk and cream. Stir in seasonings and cheeses until smooth.
- Add Seafood: Fold in crab meat, shrimp, and green onions. Mix in cooked macaroni.
- Bake: Transfer to baking dish, top with breadcrumbs tossed in oil or butter, and bake for 20–25 minutes.
- Serve: Let cool for 5–10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh or frozen seafood, ensuring it’s fully cooked before adding to the dish.
- Enhance richness with a dash of hot sauce or cayenne in the cheese sauce.
- This dish reheats well and is perfect for special occasions or weekend indulgence.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 165mg
