It’s creamy, rich, and loaded with tender seafood in a velvety cheese sauce — baked to golden perfection.Here’s a restaurant-quality version that’s easy to make at home 👇
🧀🦞 Seafood Mac and Cheese
🧂 Ingredients
For the pasta:
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12 oz elbow macaroni (or shells, cavatappi, etc.)
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Salt, for pasta water
For the cheese sauce:
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4 tbsp butter
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4 tbsp all-purpose flour
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3 cups whole milk (warm)
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1 cup heavy cream
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3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
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1 cup shredded mozzarella or Monterey Jack
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½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
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1 tsp Old Bay seasoning (or Cajun seasoning)
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½ tsp garlic powder
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Salt and pepper, to taste
For the seafood:
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½ lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
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½ lb crab meat (lump or claw) or lobster chunks
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1 tbsp butter or olive oil
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Squeeze of lemon juice (optional)
Optional topping:
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1 cup panko breadcrumbs
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2 tbsp melted butter
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Sprinkle of Parmesan and paprika
🥣 Instructions
1. Cook the pasta
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Boil pasta in salted water until just al dente.
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Drain and set aside (toss with a little butter or oil to prevent sticking).
2. Cook the seafood
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In a skillet, heat 1 tbsp butter or oil.
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Sauté shrimp for 2–3 minutes until pink and just cooked through.
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Add crab/lobster, season lightly with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
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Remove from heat and set aside.
3. Make the cheese sauce
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In a large saucepan, melt 4 tbsp butter over medium heat.
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Whisk in flour and cook 1–2 minutes to form a roux.
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Slowly whisk in warm milk and cream until smooth and thickened.
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Stir in seasonings (Old Bay, garlic powder, salt, pepper).
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Remove from heat and add cheeses (reserve ½ cup cheddar for topping).
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Stir until melted and creamy.
4. Combine
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Gently fold the cooked pasta and seafood into the cheese sauce.
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Pour mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
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Sprinkle the reserved cheese on top.
5. Add topping (optional but recommended!)
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Mix panko breadcrumbs with melted butter, Parmesan, and paprika.
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Sprinkle evenly over the mac and cheese.
6. Bake
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Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25–30 minutes, until bubbly and golden brown on top.
🧂 Serve With
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Garlic bread or cornbread
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A crisp green salad with lemon vinaigrette
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Hot sauce or extra Old Bay on the side
💡 Tips
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Don’t overcook the seafood — it will continue cooking in the oven.
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You can use all shrimp, all crab, or mix in scallops, crawfish, or lobster.
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For extra creaminess, stir in 2 oz cream cheese to the sauce before baking.
Would you like a Cajun-style seafood mac and cheese version next (spicier, with peppers and andouille sausage)?
