Mac and cheese is a famously comforting meal that can make any day better. A big bowl of creamy and cheese macaroni can lift my spirits any day, no matter what’s happening in my life. However, I must admit that it’s not the most sophisticated meal. It doesn’t boast a whole lot of nutrients or protein.
What if we can change that? This seafood mac and cheese recipe takes a fan favorite from simple to complex. The combination of flavors will bring out your inner food critic. Finally, the abundance of seafood will make for a protein-rich meal that is not only delicious, but also good for you.
How to make Seafood Mac and Cheese?
Preheat the oven to 350 F degrees.
Prepare your seafood for cooking.
Cook the macaroni.
Place the macaroni in a mixing bowl and add sour cream.
Stir the mixture together.
Add crab meat and stir.
Chop some green onion, and grate white cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Set aside.
Melt butter in a skillet and add some shrimps.
Remove cooked shrimps from the skillet, cut up, and add to the macaroni.
Add your chopped onions to the skillet and sauté.
Add some flour to the skillet, mix it with the onions, and cook for 1 minute.
Add milk and let it thicken.
Start adding the cheddar cheese and keep stirring.
Pour the resulting mixture over the macaroni and stir.
Season with salt and pepper.
Butter a baking dish.
Place your macaroni mixture into the baking dish.
Sprinkle mozzarella on top.
Sprinkle breadcrumbs on top.
Sprinkle paprika on top.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
Serve immediately!
What seafood should I add to my mac and cheese?
I usually add seafood that is easy to find, such as shrimp, prawn, and crab meat. You can add anything you can think of. If you have access to some higher-end seafood, like lobster, octopus, and squid, all will make a great addition to this pasta dish.
How can I make my mac and cheese creamier?
If you like your mac and cheese on the creamier side, you’re not alone. You can make this recipe creamier by adding more milk. Play with it and figure out how much milk you need. If you’ve made mac and cheese before, just do what you always do.
Can I substitute the seafood with chicken?
Certainly! It wouldn’t be seafood mac and cheese anymore, but it would probably be just as delicious. You can pick a protein of your choice. If you’re using chicken, make sure it’s completely cooked through when you take it out of the oven.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of dry Macaroni
- 6 oz. Claw Crab Meat
- 8 oz. Shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 oz. Sour Cream
- 4 Tablespoons Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Flour
- 1 Spring Onion
- 1 can Evaporated Milk
- 8 oz. block Sharp White Cheddar Cheese
- 4 oz. block Mozzarella Cheese
- ¼ cup Panko Bread Crumbs
- Salt, Black Pepper, to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Peel and de-vein shrimp if needed.
Cook the macaroni according to package directions. Drain well.
Place drained macaroni in a large mixing bowl.
Add the sour cream, stir together well, until all noodles are coated.
Add the crab meat, stir well.
Finely chop the green onion. Set Aside.
Grate the white cheddar cheese. Set aside.
Grate the mozzarella cheese. Set aside.
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan, or skillet.
Add the shrimp. Turn and stir shrimp until lightly done.
Remove shrimp from pan. Chop slightly when cooled. Add to the macaroni mixture.
Add the finely chopped onions to the saucepan, sauté until tender.
Sprinkle flour over onions and mix well. Let cook and brown for about one minute.
Slowly add the milk, stirring constantly until the mixture begins to thicken.
Gradually add the grated Cheddar Cheese, stirring constantly until cheese melts.
Pour cheese mixture over the macaroni and seafood mixture. Stir well to combine.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Place the mixture in a well-buttered baking dish.
Sprinkle top with grated mozzarella cheese.
Sprinkle bread crumbs on top of the mozzarella cheese.
Sprinkle lightly with Paprika, to add color.
Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes, or until lightly browned on top.
Serve warm and Enjoy!
Nutrition
Use your favorite combinations of seafood to make this dish. If you like your mac and cheese a little creamier, add another half cup of milk to the recipe when adding the evaporated milk.
