This Seafood Mac and Cheese recipe is made with crab, shrimp, and macaroni pasta. This is the perfect, simple cheesy casserole to add to any spread. Add Old Bay Seasoning for an additional kick of flavor!
What Type of Seafood to Use
I love to use shrimp and jumbo lump crab in this recipe. You can also use scallops, lobster, mussels, or pretty much whatever you like.
What Type of Shrimp to Use
Shrimp can be found at the grocery store in a few different ways. There is raw, pre-cooked, raw and frozen, deveined, tails on, tails off, etc.
I never use pre-cooked shrimp. There is an obvious difference in taste due to the lack of quality. The shrimp is cooked and then frozen and you have to cook it/warm it up again. This usually overcooks the shrimp. Raw shrimp only takes minutes to make, just buy it raw.
Can You Use Frozen Shrimp? How to Thaw
You should thaw it first. You can thaw frozen shrimp in a bowl of cold water for 20 minutes.
Do You Keep the Tails on the Shrimp?
This is completely up to you and is a matter of preference. Often the tails are left on for presentation purposes only. The shrimp simply looks nicer and will have a nice curve to it when the tails are left on.
Leaving the tail on is often inconvenient when it comes to devouring the meal!
What Type of Crab to Use
I use lump crab meat. You can find it in the refrigerated meat section of the grocery store. Lots of people use imitation crab meat, sometimes called krab meat. You can use that if you wish, it’s also sometimes easier to find.
Imitation crab is processed fish meat. It is seafood and comes from surimi that has been deboned and minced into a paste. It does not contain crab. Crab extract is sometimes added for flavor.
Substitutions and Additional Add-In Ideas
- Bacon
- Chicken
- Lobster
- Caramelized Onions
Can You Make it Ahead
If you’re making this for a crowd, I wouldn’t make it ahead the night before. This is a dish that’s best served fresh while the cheese is still soft and gooey. After making it, I leave it in the oven on warm and covered in foil. You can, because the dish does reheat. It’s just served best when fresh.
How to Store It
You can store leftovers in the fridge, tightly covered for 3-4 days.
How to Reheat it
The best way to reheat it is in the air fryer on 350 degrees for 4-5 minutes or until warm. You can also use the oven at the same temperature. Heat until warm. You can use the microwave, but it doesn’t result in the best texture in my opinion.
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 of Evaporated Milk
8 oz. block of Sharp White Cheddar Cheese
4 oz. block Mozzarella Cheese
¼ cup Panko Bread Crumbs
Salt, Black Pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350°.
Peel and de-vein shrimp if needed.
Cook the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain well.
Place drained macaroni in a large mixing bowl.
Add the sour cream, and stir together well, until all noodles are coated.
Add the crab meat, and 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, and 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 the cheese melts.
Pour the 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 (displayed with net carbs)
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 521kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 32g