Description
Creamy Seafood Mac and Cheese made with tender shrimp, lump crab, scallops, sharp cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan, with an optional buttery panko topping for extra crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
For the pasta
- 1 lb (450 g) elbow macaroni (or cavatappi)
- 1 tablespoon salt for boiling water
For the cheese sauce
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups whole milk warmed
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning or paprika + pinch cayenne
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded (or Swiss)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
For the seafood
- ½ lb (225 g) shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ lb (225 g) lump crab meat (or imitation crab)
- ½ lb (225 g) scallops (small, or cut in half if large)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
- Pinch of salt & pepper
Optional topping
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoon butter, melted
- 2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt, then cook the elbow macaroni or cavatappi according to the package directions until tender. Drain well and set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter in a skillet over medium heat. Season the shrimp, crab, and scallops with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook the seafood until the shrimp and scallops are cooked through. Set aside.
- Melt 4 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large saucepan or pot. Add the flour and stir until combined.
- Gradually add the warmed whole milk, stirring continuously. Add the heavy cream and continue stirring until the sauce becomes smooth and thickens.
- Stir in the Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning or paprika with a pinch of cayenne, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Add the shredded sharp cheddar, Gruyère or Swiss cheese, and grated Parmesan. Stir until the cheeses are melted and the sauce is creamy and smooth.
- Add the drained pasta to the cheese sauce and stir until evenly coated.
- Gently fold in the cooked shrimp, crab, and scallops, taking care not to break up the crab too much.
- For the optional topping, combine the panko breadcrumbs with the melted butter and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over the finished mac and cheese.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- Gruyère can be replaced with Swiss cheese as specified in the recipe.
- Lump crab meat can be replaced with imitation crab.
- Use Old Bay seasoning or substitute paprika with a pinch of cayenne.
- The panko-Parmesan topping is optional.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: seafood mac and cheese, seafood macaroni and cheese, shrimp crab and scallop mac and cheese, creamy seafood mac and cheese, seafood pasta, shrimp mac and cheese, crab mac and cheese