Seafood gets a comforting twist in this creamy and cheesy Seafood Mac and Cheese topped with crunchy buttery panko bread crumbs. It’s a dish that’s impossible to resist for seafood lovers!
Shrimp and lump crab meat are surrounded by tender macaroni in a rich and decadent cheese sauce prepared with 3 cheeses… this is a seafood dinner of your dreams and is totally worth the effort.
What You’ll Need
- Shrimp
- Crab meat
- Butter (unsalted)
- Elbow macaroni
- Whole Milk
- Onions
- Garlic
- Cheeses – Cheddar, Swiss and Parmesan.
- Flour (all-purpose)
- Seasonings – Salt, pepper, Old Bay Seasoning and ground nutmeg.
- Bread crumbs – Italian seasoned panko bread crumbs. My grocery store was out of Italian seasoned panko bread crumbs, so I added about ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning to my plain panko bread crumbs.
How to Prepare
Following is a brief overview of how to prepare; please see the recipe card for full detailed instructions.
- Begin cooking your macaroni according to package directions (cooked 2 minutes less than al dente). Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Cook shrimp in butter until shrimp have just turned pink. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Melt butter in a 6 quart Dutch oven or large pot. Transfer 2 tablespoons of the melted butter to the bread crumbs in a medium bowl and toss to combine.
- Cook diced onions and garlic in the remaining melted butter (until onions are soft) in a 6 quart Dutch oven or large pot.
- Add flour and continue to stir until a paste is formed.
- Slowly pour in milk and stir until smooth. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened. Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg and Old Bay.
- Remove pot from burner and stir in cheeses until smooth.
- Fold in cooked macaroni, shrimp and crab meat.
- Transfer to a 3 quart baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
- Sprinkle evenly with bread crumbs. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until bread crumbs are golden and sauce is bubbling around edges.
Serve with a garden salad for a complete meal!
How to Store
Allow to reach room temperature and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When reheating, you’ll probably need to add a couple of tablespoons of milk, as the macaroni continues to absorb the sauce.
Recipe Variations
- Swap out the shrimp or crab meat for your favorite seafood (such as cooked lobster and/or bay scallops).
- Substitute one or more of the cheeses with your favorite cheese, such as Gruyere.
5 Star Review
“This has to be the best seafood Mac and cheese I have EVER made and tasted in my 69 years on this earth. Thank you for the recipe we enjoyed it very much.” ~ Terri
Enjoy!
Seafood Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni cooked 2 minutes less than al dente, drained and rinsed with cold water
- 7 tablespoons butter divided
- ¾ pound medium shrimp peeled, deveined and chopped into ½ inch pieces
- ½ cup Italian seasoned panko bread crumbs
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
- â…“ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- â…› teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt more or less, to taste
- ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper more or less, to taste
- 1 â…“ cup grated Parmesan cheese 4 ounces
- 1 â…“ cup shredded Swiss cheese 5 â…“ ounces
- 1 â…“ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 5 â…“ ounces
- ½ pound cooked lump crab meat
- chopped fresh parsley optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees . Spray a 3 quart baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.
- Begin cooking your macaroni according to package directions (2 minutes less than al dente). Drain in a colander and rinse with cold water after cooking.
- While macaroni is cooking, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Â Add shrimp and cook, stirring constantly, just until pink on both sides (about 3 minutes). Â Remove shrimp with a slotted spoon and transfer to a plate. Set aside.
- In a 6 quart Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat, melt the remaining 6 tablespoons of butter. Â Transfer 2 tablespoons of the melted butter to a medium bowl and toss with the panko bread crumbs.
- Add diced onions and garlic to melted butter in the pot and cook until softened, about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Add flour and stir constantly until a paste is formed.
- Slowly pour in milk. Stir until smooth and there are no lumps.
- Bring to a simmer and simmer until thickened (about 1 minute), stirring constantly.
- Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg and Old Bay Seasoning. Stir to combine.
- Remove pot from burner. Â Add cheeses and stir until cheeses are melted and smooth. Â Fold in macaroni, shrimp and crab meat.
- Transfer to the prepared 3 quart baking dish and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle evenly with buttery panko bread crumb mixture.
- Bake (uncovered) for 15 to 20 minutes, or until bread crumb topping is golden brown and sauce is bubbling around edges.
- Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley when serving, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
If provided, nutritional info is a courtesy, is not guaranteed and should only be considered as a guideline.
Originally published August 2017. Updated with new photos and helpful info December 2022.
Recipe inspired by Martha Stewart’s Emeril’s Seafood Mac and Cheese
Laura Flanders
This was so delicious. Our taste buds loved the different tastes of shrimp, crabmeat, cheese and the crunch of the panko. Substituted some more cheddar for the Swiss…still came out great. Would highly recommend this recipe!
Sharon
I have a silly question. R the cheese measurements one and one third cup if each cheese or 1/3 cup of each cheese
Amy
Hi Sharon, it’s 1 and 1/3 cups. I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Rusty Goff
This is simply amazing and easy to prepare!!!!!
Amanda
SO GOOD! We used a habanero cheddar cheese and it made it a little spicy!
Amy
Thank you, Amanda – That sounds delicious! So glad you enjoyed it!
Crystal
This is absolutely delicious. I just made it tonight and theres barely any left. Someone had some and they liked it, even had seconds and the kicker is, they don’t like seafood. Definitely will be making it again
Bill gatcomb
Really yummy and we added scallops for our special Christmas dinner!we used cheddar, Parmesan and shredded jack. Also used a bit of Chardonnay in the sauce. Elegant and simple
Erin
I made the recipe today to the same specifications listed. Delicious. My family agreed this would go in the rotation of requested meals. It’s a great stand alone dinner. I only had to add a salad. Thanks for sharing.
Shirlene Johnson
All I can say is wow. I made this and my family loved it.
Amy @ The Blond Cook
So happy to hear everyone loved it – Thanks so much, Shirlene! 🙂
Zunaid
Needed a recipe but had only and had to use a mix of shrimp, mussel meat, monkfish, squid and crab… Spices I used were salt, pepper, mild masala, cumin, and some hot fruit chutney… And due to availability in my region used breadcrumbs and added Italian herbs.. Otherwise follwo3d the recipe to the T. Absolutely divine…
Pamela Smith
It was awesome i will be making this again
Amy @ The Blond Cook
Thanks so much, Pamela… so happy you loved it! 🙂
emmanuel
this is the best recipe ive found for seafood mac and cheese,i substitute swiss cheese for a smoke gruyere
Amy @ The Blond Cook
YUM, that sounds delicious! Thanks Emmanuel! 🙂
Kristin
Can you make any of this ahead of time and bake the next day?
Amy @ The Blond Cook
Hi Kristin, I have never made this a day ahead so I can’t say with certainty how it will turn out. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help. Let us know how it turns out if you try it!
Jennifer
I made this recipe, for Thanksgiving, however I added langostino to the seafood blend and I used gruyere cheese and white sharp cheddar instead. OMG, EVERYONE LOVED IT!!! AMAZING DISH. THANK YOU
Amy @ The Blond Cook
Thanks so much, Jennifer – Your version sounds delicious! So happy to hear it was a hit! 🙂
Angela
Is imitation crab okay?
Amy @ The Blond Cook
Hi Angela, I’ve never made this with imitation crab meat so I can’t say for sure. Please let me know how it turns out if you try it with imitation crab meat. Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Christy
I did it with imitation crab and it w as great!!
Amy @ The Blond Cook
Thanks for sharing, Christy… so happy you enjoyed it! 🙂
nathan
This was my first attempt at Mac & cheese. Turned out amazing! Great recipe. Thanks!
Amy @ The Blond Cook
Thanks so much, Nathan… It’s definitely one of my favorites, too! 🙂
Danni
This was absolutely delicious! My family ate it all, there was nothing left! Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂
Amy @ The Blond Cook
Thanks so much, Danni! So glad everyone enjoyed it! 🙂
Loretta
This looks and sounds so good! ALL my favorite foods in one dish. Have to make this asap.
Amy @ The Blond Cook
Thanks so much, Loretta! 🙂 Hope you enjoy!