Seafood Mac and Cheese
There’s nothing quite like a comforting bowl of mac and cheese. And when you add seafood to the mix, it’s even better! This Seafood Mac and Cheese recipe is the perfect way to indulge in your comfort food cravings.
INGREDIENTS:
1 lb. Elbow macaroni
8 oz. Cooked shrimp cut into pieces
8 oz. Crab meat
6 Tbsp. Butter unsalted and divided
½ C. Panko bread crumbs
½ Medium onion chopped
2 tsp. Minced garlic
2 ½ C. Milk
½ C. Heavy whipping cream
⅓ C. Flour
1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
Pinch of nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
2 C. Gruyere cheese shredded
1 C. Cheddar cheese shredded
1 C. Parmesan cheese grated
½ tsp. Paprika
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Cook the macaroni until it is al dente, rinse and drain well.
Add 2 tbsp of melted butter to the panko bread crumbs in a small bowl, mix well to combine and set aside.
Place the other 4 tbsp of butter into a saucepan over medium heat on the stove.
Add the onions to the melted butter, and cook until they begin to soften.
Add the garlic into the skillet, and saute another 30 seconds.
Place the flour in the skillet, and stir to combine, cooking for 1 minute.
Whisk the milk and heavy whipping cream into the mixture in the saucepan, and add in the Old Bay seasoning, nutmeg, paprika and salt and pepper to taste.
Continue to cook the mixture until it thickens.
Whisk the cheeses into the sauce mixture until completely melted.
Stir the seafood into the cheese mixture, and cook until heated through.
Pour the cheese mixture over the macaroni and stir to combine.
Layer the macaroni in a 9×13 baking dish, and top with the bread crumb mixture.
Bake for 30 minutes before serving.