Description
Follow these steps to make a rich, creamy, and baked Lobster Mac and Cheese suitable for a special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound elbow macaroni or cavatappi pasta
- 1 pound cooked lobster meat, roughly chopped
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk, warmed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon melted butter (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
- In a large saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to create a roux.
- Gradually whisk in the warm milk until the mixture is smooth. Continue to cook, stirring often, until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 5-7 minutes). Do not let it boil rapidly.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper.
- Add the cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan cheeses to the sauce, stirring until completely melted and smooth. Stir in the heavy cream.
- Gently fold the cooked pasta and the chopped lobster meat into the cheese sauce until everything is evenly coated.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- In a small bowl, toss the panko breadcrumbs with 1 tablespoon of melted butter. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs evenly over the top of the pasta mixture.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the sauce is bubbly. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can use fresh, frozen, or pre-cooked lobster meat for this recipe. If using frozen, thaw it completely before adding it to the sauce.
- For an elevated flavor, add 1 teaspoon of white truffle oil to the cheese sauce just before adding the pasta.
- If you prefer a stovetop version, skip steps 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9. Simply combine the sauce, pasta, and lobster, heat through gently, and serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 20
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 150