Seafood Mac and Cheese

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This Seafood Mac and Cheese is the tastiest way to use up your leftover seafood and your family will not be disappointed by this recipe.

A white plate loaded with the seafood mac and cheese.

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Seafood Mac and Cheese is so much easier than you’d think. Make this seafood mac and cheese recipe for your family this week, they will not be disappointed, in fact it will become a family favorite. Who invented lasagna, the history is fascinating, check it out.

For flavor packed seafood recipe, check out this grilled seafood recipe collection.


MORE MAC AND CHEESE RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE

South West Mac and Cheese | Easy Skillet Mac and Cheese | Smoked Bacon Mac and Cheese


What We Love About This Recipe

  • 45 Minute Meal: Make this flavor packed recipe in under 45 minutes.
  • Family Friendly: Your family will absolutely love this seafood mac and cheese recipe, it is to die for!
  • Adaptable: Add your favorite seafoods such as scallops or lobster chunks.
A close up of the seafood dish.

Ingredient Notes

  • Crab Meat: Real lump crab meat or imitation crab will work for this recipe.
  • Sour Cream: Greek yogurt will work in place of sour cream for a healthier swap.
Pasta, cheese seafood butter and ingredients to make the dish.

Variations and Substitutions

  • Cajun Seasoning – For a Cajun twist add some Cajun seasoning to the cheese mixture and top with a sprinkle or add a little heat with cayenne pepper.
  • Lobster – It you’re feeling fancy, you can also swap the crab and shrimp for lobster meat.
  • Noodles – You do not have to use elbow macaroni shaped noodles, any shape of pasta will work such as cavatappi or penne.
  • Cheese – Use different cheese such as sharp cheddar cheese, fontina, gruyere cheese, or Monterey jack cheese.

How to Make Shrimp Mac and Cheese

These are the basic steps for making this Seafood Mac and Cheese recipe. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions and check out Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook for more great recipe ideas.

Cooking the pasta and incorporating some of the ingredients.

STEP 1: COOK THE MACARONI

Start by preheating oven to 350 degrees and spray a 13×9 inch baking dish with cooking oil. While preheating, cook the pasta in a large pot until al dente and drain. Add to a large bowl and fold in with sour cream, crab, and cooked shrimp.

STEP 2: MAKE THE CHEESE SAUCE

In a saucepan over medium heat, cook onion in butter until translucent. Next, stir in flour, evaporated milk, and white cheddar, whisk until melted and no lumps remain. Pour cheesy mixture over macaroni and add seasoning, mix until combined.

STEP 3: BAKE

Transfer the shrimp mac and cheese to the baking dish. Top with mozzarella, panko bread crumbs, and a sprinkle of dry parsley. Bake uncovered 30 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste before serving.  

Creating the creamy sauce for the dish.

Prep and Storage Tips

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME

To make this recipe ahead of time, make the macaroni and the cheese sauce. Add to the baking dish and cover with tinfoil and refrigerate for overnight. When you are ready to cook, top with the cheese and breadcrumbs.

HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE

Store leftover seafood mac and cheese recipe in air tight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE

Freezer shrimp mac and cheese in the freezer for up to 3 months, allow to thaw fully before reheating.

HOW TO REHEAT THIS RECIPE

Reheat seafood mac n cheese leftovers in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until to reheat in the oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Add a drop or two of whole milk to thin out if necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT ARE THE THREE BEST CHEESES FOR MAC AND CHEESE?

The best cheeses to use for mac and cheese are cheddar, gouda, and gruyere cheese.

CAN I SUBSTITUTE COTTAGE CHEESE IN PLACE OF SOUR CREAM?

Fortunately, if you do not have sour cream, greek yogurt or cottage cheese will work just as well.

CAN THIS RECIPE BE DOUBLED OR HALVED?

This recipe can easily be doubled or halved, just proptionally increase or decrease ingredients.

WHAT KIND OF CHEESE GOES WELL WITH SEAFOOD?

There are quite a few cheeses that pair well with seafood including, gruyere, parmesan, mozzarella, cojita cheese, or cheddar.

A top view of the plate of food.

Expert Tips for Making This Recipe

  • This Recipe Can be Doubled: This is a great recipe to bring to a family holiday.  Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and split it into two baking dishes before baking.
  • Large Skillet: You can also make this seafood mac and cheese recipe in a skillet.
  • Coat: Use a little cooking spray or melted butter in the pan so the food does not stick.
  • Cheese: Add a little parmesan cheese for more cheesy flavor. Garnish with nutmeg, fresh herbs or old bay seasoning.

What to Serve with Seafood Mac and Cheese

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A white plate loaded with the seafood mac and cheese.
5 from 1 vote

Seafood Mac and Cheese

Yield: 4 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
This Seafood Mac and Cheese is the tastiest way to use up your leftover seafood and your family will not be disappointed by this recipe.
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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups dry macaroni pasta
  • 6 ounces crab meat
  • 8 ounces shrimp – cooked, peeled, deveined, tail off
  • 8 ounces sour cream
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 can evaporated milk
  • 8 ounces white cheddar, shredded
  • 8 ounces mozzarella, shredded
  • ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon each paprika, salt, pepper, dry parsley

Instructions

  • Start by preheating oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 13×9 baking dish with nonstick spray.
  • First, cook the pasta and drain. Add to a large bowl.
  • Add the sour cream, crab, and cooked shrimp to the cooked macaroni and mix until combined.
  • In a saucepan over medium-high heat, cook onion in butter until translucent.
  • Once onion is cooked, stir in flour, evaporated milk, and white cheddar, stir until melted.
  • Pour cheesy mixture over macaroni and add seasoning, mix until combined.
  • Top with mozzarella, panko breadcrumbs, and a sprinkle of dry parsley.
  • Bake uncovered 30 minutes.

Expert Tips

      • This Recipe Can be Doubled: This is a great recipe to bring to a family holiday.  Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and split it into two baking dishes before baking.
      • Large Skillet: You can also make this seafood mac and cheese recipe in a skillet.
      • Coat: Use a little cooking spray or melted butter in the pan so the food does not stick.
      • Cheese: Add a little parmesan cheese for more cheesy flavor. Garnish with nutmeg, fresh herbs or old bay seasoning.

Estimated Nutritional Information

Calories: 841kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 56g | Saturated Fat: 32g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 254mg | Sodium: 1541mg | Potassium: 431mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1768IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 819mg | Iron: 2mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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Course: dinner, Main Dish
Cuisine: American

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