Seafood Mac and Cheese

Seafood Mac and Cheese

from allrecipes.com
Dinner
75 min
8 servings
710 kcal / serving

Succulent lobster and crabmeat—plus a splash of white wine—take this mac and cheese to new heights. If you’re using frozen lobster tails, let them thaw in the fridge overnight.

Ingredients

  • 12 ounceselbow macaroni
  • 4lobster tails, thawed if frozen
  • 3 cupsshredded gruyère cheese (12 oz.)
  • 12 ounceswiss-style processed cheese (about 16 slices), torn
  • 5 tablespoonsflour
  • 4 tablespoonsbutter
  • 1shallot, chopped (1/4 cup)
  • 3 clovesgarlic, minced
  • 2 ¾ cupswhole milk
  • ⅓ cupdry white wine
  • 1can refrigerated lump crabmeat, drained
  • 1 ½ teaspoonsseafood seasoning (such as old bay), plus more for garnish
  • ¼ teaspoonsblack pepper
  • 2 cupscubed day-old crusty country bread
  • chopped fresh chives, for garnish
  • lemon wedges, for serving

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

  2. 2

    Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook macaroni, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Reserve 2 cups cooking water; drain macaroni. Rinse with cold water; drain again.

  3. 3

    Return reserved pasta water to pot; add lobster tails. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and steam until lobster meat is firm and opaque, about 3 minutes.

  4. 4

    Transfer lobster tails to a tray; let cool 2 to 3 minutes. Remove meat and cut into bite-size pieces. Rinse pot.

  5. 5

    Meanwhile, combine Gruyère, Swiss, and flour in a large bowl.

  6. 6

    Melt 1 tablespoon butter in the empty pasta pot over medium heat. Add shallot and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until shallot is softened, about 3 minutes. Gradually add milk and wine; heat just until bubbles form around edge of pot. Gradually whisk in cheese mixture, 1 cup at a time, just until cheese is melted; mixture may not be completely smooth at this point. Remove from heat. Stir in lobster, crabmeat, 1 teaspoon seafood seasoning, and pepper. Stir in macaroni.

  7. 7

    Pulse bread cubes in a food processor to get large coarse crumbs. Melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter; stir in remaining 1/2 teaspoon seafood seasoning. Add bread crumbs; toss to combine.

  8. 8

    Pour macaroni mixture into prepared baking dish. Top with bread crumb mixture.

  9. 9

    Bake in the preheated oven until hot and bubbly and top is golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Garnish with chives and additional seafood seasoning. Serve with lemon wedges.