seafood Mac and cheese recipe (2024)

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I’ve had a bunch of people ask for my recipe for Seafood Mac and Cheese recipe. The cheesy goodness is a delicious twist on traditional macaroni and cheese but still easy enough for weeknight dinners. We like it with my quickie green beans or a simple salad topped with my cheater balsamic dressing.

seafood Mac and cheese recipe (1)

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It’s one of my favorite dinners because it’s total comfort food with a little flair. I love the smoothness of the cheese and the crunch of the topping.

This recipe makes 2-3 adult sized meal portions. The musicmaker and I eat a lot and we split this but you can easily double or triple the recipe.

Seafood Mac and Cheese Recipe

The proportions of fish are definitely a preference thing so just use what you have or what sound good to you.

seafood Mac and cheese recipe (3)

Seafood Macaroni and Cheese Ingredients

The ingredients are super flexible when it comes to the seafood just use about 1 cup worth of seafood. I’ve tried it with those bagged seafood mixes and random ends of bags in my freezer and it all turns out tasty!

  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup each shrimp, imitation crab, and fish (I use half a costco filet and sometimes I use bay scallops whatever sounds good to you will work)
  • Old Bay Seasoning
  • 3 TBS butter divided
  • 2 TBS flour
  • 1 C milk
  • 4 ounces dry pasta
  • 1/2 to 1 C cheese (I like to use a slice of Munster and then a big handful of colby jack)
  • Onion Powder and Salt to taste
  • Panko bread crumbs for topping
  • Spray Oil like Pam

seafood Mac and cheese recipe (4)

How to Make Seafood Mac and Cheese

While you don’t need to do the topping and baking step I think it adds a level of specialness that takes this tasty dish over the top.

  1. Start water boiling for pasta. When boiling add pasta to cook
  2. If any of your seafood is raw cook it in 1 TBS butter once almost cooked through add the rest of the seafood and a sprinkling of Old Bay seasoning to taste. Remove from pan.
  3. Using the same pan add remaining butter over medium heat and flour to make a roux.
  4. Slowly add milk while stirring to make a cream sauce.
  5. Add cheese and melt though.
  6. Add seafood mix.
  7. Add salt and onion powder to taste.
  8. Next add 1/8 to 1/4 C pasta water and pasta reserving water in case you want it thinner.
  9. You can serve it now as a saucy pasta but what I think makes this special is this next step. Pour into casserole dish. Cover generously with Panko breadcrumbs. Spray with Pam and broil until crisp.

It’s comfort food elevated but on a total doable for the middle of the week level of energy investment!

seafood Mac and cheese recipe (5)

Seafood Mac and Cheese Recipe

Course Main Course

Seafood Mac and Cheese Recipe the perfect comfort food when you are craving pasta but want it a little fancy.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup each shrimp imitation crab, and fish (I use half a costco filet and sometimes I use bay scallops whatever sounds good to you will work)
  • Old Bay Seasoning
  • 3 TBS butter divided
  • 2 TBS flour
  • 1 C milk
  • 4 ounces dry pasta
  • 1/2 to 1 C cheese I like to use a slice of Munster and then a big handful of colby jack
  • Onion Powder and Salt to taste
  • Panko bread crumbs for topping
  • Spray Oil like Pam

Instructions

  • Start water boiling for pasta. When boiling add pasta to cook

  • If any of your seafood is raw cook it in 1 TBS butter once almost cooked through add the rest of the seafood and a sprinkling of Old Bay seasoning to taste. Remove from pan.

  • Using the same pan add remaining butter over medium heat and flour to make a roux.

  • Slowly add milk while stirring to make a cream sauce.

  • Add cheese and melt though.

  • Add seafood mix.

  • Add salt and onion powder to taste.

  • Next add 1/8 to 1/4 C pasta water and pasta reserving water in case you want it thinner.

  • You can serve it now as a saucy pasta but what I think makes this special is this next step. Pour into casserole dish. Cover generously with Panko breadcrumbs. Spray with Pam and broil until crisp.

Nom nom nom, I want to make this again tomorrow it was so so delicious!

seafood Mac and cheese recipe (6)

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seafood Mac and cheese recipe (9)

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Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Debra says

    Yum! I love Macaroni and Cheese and my husband doesn’t. I think these may be the trick to swaying him to our side.

    Reply

  2. marissa says

    THat’s kind of heartbreaking that he doesn’t like mac and cheese! Yes I think it’s different enough it may satisfy both of you guys. Hopefully we can convert him.

    Reply

  3. Lindsay says

    Yummy! That looks amazing! I am so trying this!

    Reply

  4. Kady says

    Looks delish! I live on the coast of NC and can’t wait to try this with some local sea food!

    Reply

  5. Milynn luong says

    I love seafood and I love mac and cheese. Why didn’t I think of this before? This is the best thing since sliced bread. Thanks for the recipe! I’m glad I stumbled on your blog from the made with love Link up!

    -Milynn
    Love and Whimsy

    Reply

  6. Haydn and Kristy @ Taste Buds says

    I am lactose intolerant, but I may have to break my routine to try this.

    -h (@taste-buds)

    Reply

  7. simona says

    nice, i love how you turned this classic recipe into a gourmet dinner :)

    Reply

  8. Christine says

    I MUST try this!!! It simply looks DELICIOUS!! What consists of Old Bay Seasoning? I’m wondering if I can get that here.

    Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality!

    Reply

  9. Amy Rea says

    OMG, yum! I want to make this now, but it is only 1130am in the morning. I have just added the ingredients to next weeks shopping list!

    Reply

  10. Betsy says

    Yes, I will have 3 servings please. Hehe! Looks delicious, I would make this but my husband is iffy on new things. I might have a guilty pleasure and make it all for myself.

    Reply

  11. Betsy Pool says

    Looks good. Thanks for linking up at Romance on a dime!

    Reply

  12. Autumn says

    I LOVE seafood…this looks amazing!

    Reply

  13. Erin says

    This sounds absolutely amazing! Love the crunchy top!

    Reply

  14. Sarah @ Simply Sarah Style says

    This sounds amazing. Definitely “pin worthy.” Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

  15. Carrie says

    I love adding things to mac and cheese. It looks great. Thanks for sharing at Sharing Saturday!

    Reply

seafood Mac and cheese recipe (2024)

FAQs

What cheese goes well with seafood? ›

Balance the saltiness: Seafood is naturally salty, so it's important to choose a cheese that balances the saltiness. Aged cheeses like parmesan and asiago work well with seafood dishes that are heavily salted, while fresh cheeses like goat cheese and feta can lighten the overall saltiness of the dish.

What do you eat with seafood mac and cheese? ›

Seafood mac and cheese pairs well with many dishes. Here are a few suggestions: Green Salad: A simple salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and a light vinaigrette can balance the richness of the mac and cheese. Garlic Bread or Breadsticks: A side of warm, garlicky bread can be great choice.

What kind of cheese goes well with crab? ›

Heck, you can even use some fresh steamed crab if you have access to that! For the cheese sauce, I love to use a mix of cheddar, gruyere and a sprinkle of parmesan. The combination is super good, melty, nutty, savory and rich.

Can you mix cheese and fish? ›

Mixing fish and dairy can be one of the most creative and delectable combinations especially since it is less common. Since seafood has subtle flavors, deciding what cheese goes with fish should be carefully chosen and avoiding strong-flavored cheese.

What is the best melting cheese for seafood? ›

One of the best cheeses to cook with is Gruyère AOP, as it melts incredibly well and easily emulsifies into sauces. Luckily, it's also one of the best cheeses to pair with fish and seafood.

What is good to mix in mac and cheese? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Your Macaroni and Cheese Dinners
  • Add extra cheese to your dish.
  • Mix in some hot sauce and chicken to make buffalo chicken mac n' cheese.
  • Add in vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.
  • Sprinkle some bacon bits or breadcrumbs on the top of your dish.
  • Add spices and fresh herbs to your dish.
May 21, 2022

How does Gordon Ramsay make the best mac and cheese? ›

Preparation
  1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the pasta and milk. ...
  2. Once the pasta is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. ...
  3. Divide between serving bowls and top with the bread crumbs.
  4. Enjoy!
  5. All your favorite recipes, stored in one place.
May 4, 2023

What compliments mac and cheese? ›

  • 1 / 25. Roasted Broccoli. Perfectly seasoned broccoli florets roasted until crisp and caramelized. ...
  • 2 / 25. Garlic Green Beans. ...
  • 3 / 25. Glazed Carrots. ...
  • 4 / 25. Easy Sautéed Spinach. ...
  • 5 / 25. Easy 10-Minute Garlic Broccolini. ...
  • 6 / 25. 5-Ingredient Kale Caesar Salad. ...
  • 7 / 25. Shaved Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • 8 / 25. Spanakopita Kale Salad.

What cheese pairs with shrimp? ›

Since popular favorites like crab, shrimp and lobster already have a rich, buttery taste, they pair well with heavier types of dairy, like cream sauces. That's why a dish like lobster macaroni and cheese is so decadent or why shrimp scampi needs to be topped with freshly grated parmesan.

What cheese to pair with lobster? ›

Pick mild cheeses as you want to complement the sweet, buttery flavor of the lobster, not over power its flavor. We use Gruyere, Swiss, and American cheeses in our recipe. Also try a mascarpone, provolone, or even mozzarella cheeses.

What is the perfect match for crab? ›

  • Roasted Vegetables. Crab has a sweet, buttery taste, so it is important to choose a side that won't overshadow the light meat. ...
  • Creamy Potatoes.
  • Lemon Garlic Dipping Sauce. ...
  • French Fries. ...
  • Raw or Steamed Vegetables.
  • Flavored Dips and Sauces. ...
  • Fresh Artichokes.
  • Crisp Green Salad.
Sep 8, 2022

Why does cheese not go with seafood? ›

According to them, the delicate flavor of fish simply clashes with the strong taste of cheese, creating a muddled flavor that tastes like neither.

Which foods should not be eaten together with fish? ›

Eating milk, curd or other dairy products with fish may trigger digestive discomfort, bloating, stomach ache and even lead to skin infections and allergies. The combination of dairy and fish can disturb the digestive flow due to their high protein content and compounds that can impact digestion.

What should not be eaten with cheese? ›

Veer from olive mixes speckled with dried red pepper flakes, really spicy pickled items, spicy meats, hot jellies, mustards, or chutneys, and even crackers with black peppercorns. While delicious, these accompaniments will linger on your palate and hinder your experience of the cheese in its natural state.

What cheese pairs well with lobster? ›

Pick mild cheeses as you want to complement the sweet, buttery flavor of the lobster, not over power its flavor. We use Gruyere, Swiss, and American cheeses in our recipe. Also try a mascarpone, provolone, or even mozzarella cheeses.

What flavors go well with seafood? ›

Spices Most Commonly Used With Seafood:
  • Garlic. Garlic powder is a good choice for enhancing the flavor of your seafood. ...
  • Basil. Basil is great for fish or shrimp recipes. ...
  • Bay Leaf. Its aroma is perfectly paired with a delicate tasting fish, like tilapia. ...
  • Cayenne. ...
  • Cumin. ...
  • Parsley. ...
  • Paprika. ...
  • Rosemary.

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