Just when you thought macaroni and cheese can’t get any better, we’ve added crab. This is a perfectly delicious and comforting mac and cheese recipe with crab and lots of cheese.
I’ve been craving mac and cheese for the longest time! I don’t make it too often. It’s the weirdest thing, every time I make it, it tends to jump in my mouth no matter how full I am. Baked macaroni and cheese is so good and can be very addictive. The family loves it though, so I make sure they are around when I made it, so it doesn’t just jump in my mouth.
I’ve made a few different versions of mac and cheese before. It’s just one of those dishes where you can play with different flavors and find the ones that you like the most. My favorite way of making mac and cheese is baking it. This time, I decided to make it extra special so I got some claw crab meat and added it. Seafood is great paired with pasta and Parmesan cheese and crab is one of my favorite types of seafood. I didn’t have a doubt that it would turn out perfectly. It sure did!
I also like to use more flavorful cheeses. I like to use sharp cheeses or smoked cheeses. Sharp white cheddar is one of my favorite’s. There is nothing like fresh grated Parmesan too.
Baked Crab Mac And Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 6 oz claw crab meat
- 3 tbs unsalted butter
- 2 tbs all purpose flour
- 1 large shallot chopped finely
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 3 oz fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- 10 oz sharp white cheddar cheese block, it will melt better
- salt fresh cracked pepper (to taste)
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 and lightly grease a casserole dish.
- Cook the macaroni according to the box instructions, drain well. Add the crab meat and set aside.
- In a sauce pot, melt the butter (on medium heat) and add chopped shallot. Saute until fragrant.
- Sprinkle the flour over the shallot, mix well. Slowly pour in the milk while constantly stirring with a rubber whisk. The mixture will start thickening.
- Grate the white cheddar into the milk mixture. Add salt and pepper and keep stirring, slowly, until the cheese is melted.
- Pour the cheese mixture into the macaroni and crab. Add half of the grated Parmesan cheese. Stir well, until all combined.
- Transfer into a baking casserole dish. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and the other half of the grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes.
- **Recipe by Lyuba from willcookforsmiles.com
Nutrition
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Heather says
What can you substitute for shallot? 🙁 I have red onion and green onion.. haha, not sure if that is even comparable.
Nana says
What kind of brewd crumbs did you used?
lyuba says
Hi Nana! I usually grab wither the 4C brand or the Progresso brand. You can use plain or seasoned.
Mari says
This sounds so good..I am going to make this for dinner tonight. we love seafood and to pair it with creamy macaroni and cheese will be the ultimate of both worlds. Can’t wait to get it together and in the oven..
lyuba says
I really hope you enjoyed it! Thank you, Mari 🙂
Kristina says
Lyuba, this is excellent! I did some improvisations using a couple scallions and flat leaf parsely. I added 1’2 cup dry white wine to the sauce and a tsp. crab liquor in the center before putting in the oven,. I also had some swiss, guoda and mozzerella cheeses so I used 2 oz of each and added 1’4 cup mozzerella to the top and a light dusting of paprika to top it off. We don’t do bread crumbs around here usually. It turned out delish! Thanks so much for sharing!
lyuba says
Oh gosh, that sounds like some like delicious improvisations! Love it!
Thank you, Kristina 🙂
Kristina says
YW Lyuba! If you decide to try this dish the way I had made it……, I only used 3/4 cup of milk and also substituted white flour for rice flour…just 1 tblsp. This turned out similar to a crab cheese fondue I had once at a fancy restaurant in SLO, Ca. Injoy!!!!
lyuba says
I definitely will! Sounds awesome as a crab cheese fondue 🙂
Thank you.
Tari says
This sounds so awesome as my all time favorite seafood is crab. And mixing crab and Mac and cheese has got to be the ultimate comfort food!!!! But, I’m going to try adding just one more thing. ROASTED RED PEPPERS. Oh my, that sounds so good, I think I’m drooling. I am going to get everything together and make this over the weekend. I wonder how it would do in a slow cooker? Not only the ULTIMATE COMFORT FOOD but easy too. Couldn’t beat THAT. Think I’ll try it. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
lyuba says
Oh yes, I think it will be great to roasted peppers! Let me know how you like it! Thank you 🙂
Amanda says
I have this in the oven now! It smells delicious!
lyuba says
Yay, I hope everyone loved it!
Niel and Debbie says
Wife and I are trying it tonight. The only change is we spooned it into a cupcake pan to make individual sized servings. Can’t wait to see how it turns out. Thank you for the recipe.
lyuba says
That sounds so fun, Niel!! I hope it turned out great 😉
Penguins mom says
I have tried making Mac & Cheese from Martha Stewart’s recipe to Kraft Mac & Cheese from a box, but my son just wouldn’t eat it until now! HE LOVES this recipe and asks for it specifically! Thank you!
lyuba says
I am so happy to hear that! Glad to help 🙂
Caitlyn says
How many does this serve?
lyuba says
Caitlyn, this made a full, 9-inch pie dish. I would say that it safely serves 6-8 (depending on how hungry they are 🙂 )
Erin says
Its in the oven right now, can’t wait! Added some puréed cauliflower and shredded zucchini and squash to get some veggies into my family. Thank you so much for the recipe!
lyuba says
That sounds great! I’ll have to add some veggies next time as well 🙂