Combining the rich, creamy texture of traditional macaroni and cheese with the savory tastes of seafood, seafood mac, and cheese is a delicious take on the traditional comfort dish. This recipe calls for al dente pasta, creamy cheese sauce, and soft seafood morsels like prawns, crab, or lobster. The combination creates a rich and filling supper that works well for any occasion.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk 
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup dry sherry
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 pint heavy cream
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced finely 
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
• 2 teaspoons dry mustard 
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 4 ounces Gruyere, shredded (about 1 cup)
• 4 ounces Parmesan, shredded (about 1 cup)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, plus more for sprinkling
• 1 pound blue or lump crabmeat, picked for shells and chopped
• 12 ounces extra-sharp yellow Cheddar, shredded (about 3 cups)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Add one tablespoon of olive oil to a big saucepan of boiling salted water.
3. In a large skillet, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic, and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring now and again, until they begin to soften. Add the crab and simmer, stirring periodically, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the crab begins to brown. Pour the skillet’s contents into a basin and put it aside.
4. Sherry is used to deglaze the skillet, and it is reduced for roughly five minutes. Melt the butter, then stir in the flour and cook, stirring, until no clumps remain. Add the milk, heavy cream, paprika, tarragon, thyme, mustard, and parsley. Then, whisk in the Gruyere, Parmesan, and eight ounces of cheddar cheese. After bringing it to a simmer, reduce the heat, and cook for ten minutes on low. Add pepper and salt for seasoning.
5. As you wait, add the noodles to the boiling water and cook them as directed on the package. After setting aside 1 cup of pasta water, drain the noodles and add them back to the saucepan (I prefer to leave a small amount of pasta water in the pot after draining). Mix thoroughly after adding the cream cheese, crab, and cheese sauce. (If the mixture is too thick, stir in 1/4 cup of pasta water at a time.) If necessary, add extra salt and pepper for seasoning.
6. Transfer the blend to a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Evenly distribute the final 4 ounces of cheddar cheese on top. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is nicely golden. (Take caution—the cheese in the oven can burst.) Before serving, allow it to rest for 15 to 20 minutes. Add a little parsley on top.

Seafood Mac and Cheese Recipe

Many people have asked for my recipe for Seafood Macaroni and Cheese. While offering a tasty twist on the classic macaroni and cheese, the creamy delight is still manageable for evening dinners. We enjoy using my quickie.

It’s complete comfort cuisine with a dash of style, which makes it one of my favorite dinners. I adore how crunchy the topping is and how smooth the cheese is.

Fish proportions are indeed a personal preference, so go with what you have or what tastes good to you.

Ingredients

Use roughly 1 cup worth of seafood, however, the components are adaptable when it comes to seafood. I’ve done it with random ends of bags in my freezer and those bagged seafood mixtures and it works well!

• Old Bay Seasoning
• 3 TBS butter divided
• 2 TBS flour
• 1 C milk
• 4 ounces dry pasta
• Spray Oil like Pam
• Onion Powder and Salt to taste
• Panko bread crumbs for topping
• 1/2 to 1 C cheese (I like to use a slice of Munster and then a big handful of Colby Jack)
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup each shrimp, imitation crab,  and fish (I use half a Costco filet and sometimes I use bay scallops whatever sounds good to you will work)

How to Make Seafood Mac and Cheese 

1. Bring water to a boil for pasta. Add pasta to cook when boiling.
2. Add the remaining seafood and a dash of Old Bay flavor to taste after cooking any raw seafood in 1 TBS butter until it’s almost done. Take out of the pan.
3. In the same pan, combine the remaining butter and flour over medium heat to form a roux.
4. Create a cream sauce by whisking in milk gradually.
5. Melt the cheese after adding it.
6. Add a mixture of seafood.
7. To taste, add onion powder and salt.
8. In case you want it thinner, add 1/8 to 1/4 C of pasta water and pasta-saving water after that.
9. You can serve it as saucy pasta right now, but this following step is what, in my opinion, really sets it apart. Transfer to a casserole dish. Apply a thick layer of Panko breadcrumbs. Put on some Pam spray and broil until crispy.

FAQs

Conclusion

Comfort food aficionados and seafood fans will both enjoy the delicious combination of creamy cheese sauce and juicy shellfish found in Seafood Mac & Cheese. This dish’s flavor profile is so wonderful and versatile that it works well for major occasions as well as informal weeknight dinners. Try it and witness the mouthwatering blend of flavors for yourself!