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.
Jump to RecipeIt’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 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
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.
- 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.
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
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!
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.
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.
Lindsay says
Yummy! That looks amazing! I am so trying this!
gillian greding says
Seriously, this looks so unbelievalby delicious!!!
Kady says
Looks delish! I live on the coast of NC and can’t wait to try this with some local sea food!
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
Haydn and Kristy @ Taste Buds says
I am lactose intolerant, but I may have to break my routine to try this.
-h (@taste-buds)
simona says
nice, i love how you turned this classic recipe into a gourmet dinner :)
Rose Jes says
I pined this! It looks so good I want to reach right in a take a bite!
Rose @ http://www.arosiesweethome.com/
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!
Debi Bolocofsky says
This looks delicious. I love mac and cheese. Seafood in it sounds amazing. I have a link party, and I would love it if you would link this post. It is called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party. You can find it at
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/08/natural-translucent-face-powder-update.html
I hope to see you there. Have a great Day.
Debi Bolocofsky
Adorned From Above
http://www.adornedfromabove.com
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!
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.
Betsy Pool says
Looks good. Thanks for linking up at Romance on a dime!
Tanya-Lemonsforlulu.com says
Love this twist to ordinary mac and cheese!
Autumn says
I LOVE seafood…this looks amazing!
Erin says
This sounds absolutely amazing! Love the crunchy top!
Sarah @ Simply Sarah Style says
This sounds amazing. Definitely “pin worthy.” Thank you for sharing!
Susan @ Oh My! Creative says
This looks really awesome!
Christine says
Congrats!!! You have been featured at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality! Come on over and grab your featured button, you deserve it :)
http://thediydreamer.blogspot.ca/2012/08/from-dream-to-reality-linky-party-28.html
Carrie says
I love adding things to mac and cheese. It looks great. Thanks for sharing at Sharing Saturday!