Seafood Mac and Cheese

Seafood Mac and Cheese

This Seafood Mac and Cheese recipe is made with crab, shrimp, and macaroni pasta. This is the perfect, simple cheesy casserole to add to any spread. Add Old Bay Seasoning for an additional kick of flavor!

What Type of Seafood to Use

I love to use shrimp and jumbo lump crab in this recipe. You can also use scallops, lobster, mussels, or pretty much whatever you like.

What Type of Shrimp to Use

Shrimp can be found at the grocery store in a few different ways. There is raw, pre-cooked, raw and frozen, deveined, tails on, tails off, etc.

I never use pre-cooked shrimp. There is an obvious difference in taste due to the lack of quality. The shrimp is cooked and then frozen and you have to cook it/warm it up again. This usually overcooks the shrimp. Raw shrimp only takes minutes to make, just buy it raw.

Can You Use Frozen Shrimp? How to Thaw

You should thaw it first. You can thaw frozen shrimp in a bowl of cold water for 20 minutes.

Do You Keep the Tails on the Shrimp?

This is completely up to you and is a matter of preference. Often the tails are left on for presentation purposes only. The shrimp simply looks nicer and will have a nice curve to it when the tails are left on.

Leaving the tail on is often inconvenient when it comes to devouring the meal!

What Type of Crab to Use

I use lump crab meat. You can find it in the refrigerated meat section of the grocery store. Lots of people use imitation crab meat, sometimes called krab meat. You can use that if you wish, it’s also sometimes easier to find.

Imitation crab is processed fish meat. It is seafood and comes from surimi that has been deboned and minced into a paste. It does not contain crab. Crab extract is sometimes added for flavor.

Please continue to the next page (>) for the full list of ingredients and complete cooking instructions. Enjoy this meal!

Seafood Mac and Cheese

Delicious recipe for Seafood Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

• 8 oz elbow macaroni
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 cup cooked crab meat
• 1/2 cup cooked lobster meat, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (optional, for topping)

Instructions:

1. Cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

2. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder. Stir constantly until the mixture becomes a smooth paste and starts to bubble.

3. Gradually whisk in the milk, making sure to eliminate any lumps. Continue to cook and stir until the mixture thickens.

4. Reduce the heat to low and add the shredded cheddar, Gruyere, and Parmesan cheese. Stir until the cheeses are fully melted and the sauce is smooth.

5. Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce, stirring to coat the pasta evenly.

6. Gently fold in the cooked shrimp, crab meat, and lobster meat.

7. Stir in chopped parsley for freshness.

8. If desired, transfer the mac and cheese mixture to a baking dish. Sprinkle breadcrumbs on top for a crunchy crust.

9. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden and the edges are bubbly.

10. Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

Enjoy your delicious Seafood Mac and Cheese!