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Mac and cheese on a wooden spoon.
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Seafood Mac and Cheese

Elevate your favorite comfort food with this delicious seafood mac and cheese recipe. Made with shrimp and lobster, the sauce is made with three types of cheeses for a tasty bite full of flavor.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword lobster mac and cheese, macaroni cheese with seafood, shrimp mac and cheese
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 634kcal
Author Tanya

Ingredients

  • 8 oz cavatappi pasta
  • ½ lb shrimp peeled, deveined
  • 4 2-3 oz lobster tails
  • 8 Tablespoon butter
  • 8 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups 2% milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese separated
  • 1 cup gruyere cheese separated
  • ½ cup smoked gouda cheese separated
  • 1 teaspoon old bay seasoning
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Bring 3 quarts of salted water to a boil in a large pot. Add pasta and cook according to directions on the box, about 8 minutes for al-dente noodles. Remove the noodles with a spider strainer and set aside.
  • Add shrimp and lobster to the boiling water and boil for 3-4 minutes, until lobster and shrimp are cooked through. Remove from water with a spider strainer. Set aside.
  • Combine milk and heavy cream in a large measuring cup or glass. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of cheddar, ½ cup of gruyere, and ¼ cup of the smoked gouda. Set aside.
  • In a separate medium-sized pot, melt butter over medium heat. Sprinkle flour in the pot and whisk for 1-2 minutes, until the flour smells toasty. Slowly whisk in milk/cream mixture. And seasonings and allow to simmer until thickened, whisking often. This should take about 5 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and add the cheese you set aside.
  • In a large bowl, add shrimp and noodles. Pour cheese mixture over noodles and stir to combine.
  • Pour mixture in a 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
  • Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes or until bubbly.
  • For an extra crisp topping, place the oven on broil for 3-4 minutes until the cheese on top has browned. Serve and enjoy.

Notes

  • Cook the pasta al dente. The pasta will continue to cook in the oven, so you don't want to overcook it or it will be pretty mushy.
  • Cook the pasta in heavily salted water so you add flavor right at the beginning.
  • Use freshly grated cheese rather than pre-grated. Pre-grated often has a coating which makes it harder for the cheese to melt.
  • For a crispy topping, you can sprinkle some panko breadcrumbs over the top before you add the shredded cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 634kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 27g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 219mg | Sodium: 956mg | Potassium: 277mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1403IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 624mg | Iron: 2mg