Ah, perfect! Here’s a rich and creamy Seafood Mac & Cheese recipe 🦐🦀🧀
Seafood Mac & Cheese
Serves: 4–6
Time: ~30 minutes
Ingredients
- 8 oz elbow macaroni (or any small pasta)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella or Gruyère
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp paprika or cayenne (optional for a little kick)
- 8 oz seafood mix (shrimp, crab, scallops—pre-cooked or thawed if frozen)
- 1 tsp garlic powder or 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Optional topping: ½ cup panko breadcrumbs mixed with 1 tbsp melted butter
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook seafood:
- In a skillet, melt 1 tbsp butter over medium heat.
- Add seafood and garlic; sauté 2–3 minutes until just cooked. Remove and set aside.
- Make cheese sauce:
- In the same skillet, melt remaining butter. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute.
- Gradually whisk in milk, cooking until thickened, 3–5 minutes.
- Add cheddar, mozzarella, salt, pepper, and optional paprika/cayenne. Stir until smooth.
- Combine:
- Stir in cooked pasta and seafood until everything is coated in sauce.
- Optional bake:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Transfer mac & cheese to a baking dish, sprinkle breadcrumb topping, and bake 10–12 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Serve: Hot, garnished with parsley or extra cheese.
Tips & Variations
- Extra creamy: Add ½ cup cream or cream cheese to the sauce.
- Extra flavor: Splash a little white wine or seafood stock when cooking the seafood.
- Spicy version: Add Cajun seasoning or hot sauce.
- Veggie mix-ins: Peas, spinach, or roasted red peppers work nicely.
If you want, I can give a super-quick stovetop version that’s ready in 20 minutes and just as creamy, skipping the oven. Do you want me to do that?
