Description
A creamy and comforting Seafood Mac and Cheese combining tender elbow macaroni, succulent shrimp, and sweet crab meat, baked to perfection with a rich cheddar cheese sauce. This classic dish is elevated with simple spices and baked until bubbly for a delightful seafood twist on a favorite comfort food.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz elbow macaroni
Seafood
- 2 cups shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 cup crab meat
Cheese Sauce
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the mac and cheese until bubbly and golden.
- Cook Macaroni: Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside for later use.
- Make Roux Base: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour along with garlic powder and onion powder, cooking and stirring to form a smooth roux base.
- Add Milk: Gradually pour in the milk while stirring constantly to prevent lumps, continuing to cook until the mixture thickens into a creamy sauce.
- Melt Cheese: Add the shredded cheddar cheese to the thickened sauce, stirring until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Add Seafood: Gently fold in the peeled and deveined shrimp and crab meat into the cheese sauce, evenly distributing the seafood.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked macaroni into the cheese and seafood mixture, stirring well to coat all the pasta with the luscious sauce.
- Bake: Transfer the mac and cheese mixture into a baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the top is bubbly and lightly golden.
Notes
- Be careful not to overcook the shrimp in the sauce to maintain tender texture.
- For extra flavor, sprinkle some paprika or cayenne pepper on top before baking.
- You can substitute crab meat with lobster or scallops if preferred.
- Using sharp cheddar cheese will give a more pronounced cheesy flavor.
- Let the baked mac and cheese rest for 5 minutes before serving for easier portioning.
