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Seafood mac and cheese recipe.
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5 from 1 vote

Seafood Mac and Cheese

My incredibly creamy seafood mac and cheese is loaded with three types of melted cheese and forkfuls of tender seafood.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Calories: 751kcal

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces elbow macaroni
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 6 tablespoons flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
  • 1 ½ cups shredded Monterey Jack
  • 4 ounces cream cheese
  • 1 pound cooked seafood (crab, shrimp, or lobster)

Topping

  • ½ cup breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
  • While the water heats up melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan over medium low heat, then add the flour. Stir together to form a roux and continue whisking to prevent scorching, until the roux begins to turn blond. Approximately three minutes.
  • Add cream cheese into the roux and stir to fully incorporate.
  • Add heavy cream to the roux a few splashes at a time to create a sauce, then add milk a few splashes at a time until all of it has been incorporated.
  • Add shredded cheese in batches, a handful at a time, until all of the cheese has been added and the sauce is creamy.
  • Let the cheese sauce gently simmer for a minute or two to thicken slightly.
  • Add the cooked elbow macaroni and seafood to the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
  • Add breadcrumbs, butter, and salt to a small saucepan set over medium heat. Melt butter and stir to combine until the breadcrumbs are fully saturated with butter.
  • Heat broiler to high and sprinkle breadcrumbs over the mac and cheese. Place your mac and cheese pot under the broiler for one minute, or until the breadcrumbs begin to brown. If you aren't using an oven safe pot, transfer the mac into a baking dish instead when broiling.
  • Remove from broiler and serve.

Notes

If the cheese sauce looks too thin, just let it simmer longer. It will thicken as it simmers.
Panko breadcrumbs also make a great topping when mixed with melted butter.
When reheating leftovers stir in a splash of milk to make it creamier.

Nutrition

Calories: 751kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 28g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 147mg | Sodium: 716mg | Potassium: 345mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1526IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 499mg | Iron: 2mg