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Seafood Mac and Cheese

Seafood Mac and Cheese Recipe

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 680
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz elbow macaroni
  • 8 oz raw medium shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails removed
  • 6 oz lump crab meat
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning, plus more for serving
  • 4 oz full-fat cream cheese, softened
  • 1 ½ cups half-and-half
  • 1 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan
  • Kosher salt and black pepper

Method
 

  1. Cook pasta in salted boiling water 1 minute less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
  2. In the same pot over medium heat, melt 1 tbsp butter. Add shrimp in a single layer, season with half the Old Bay, salt, and pepper. Cook 2 minutes per side until pink, then transfer to a plate.
  3. Reduce heat to low. Melt remaining 2 tbsp butter in the pot, add garlic, and stir 30 seconds. Add cream cheese and half-and-half, whisking until smooth. Gradually add cheddar and Parmesan, whisking until melted. Season with remaining Old Bay, salt, and pepper.
  4. Return pasta and shrimp to the pot, gently fold in crab meat, and stir until everything is hot and coated, about 1 minute. Add a splash of milk if needed.
  5. Spoon into bowls immediately and top with a light dusting of Old Bay and parsley.

Notes

The sauce will thicken as it sits, so serve right away. When reheating leftovers, add a splash of milk or half-and-half and warm slowly on the stove. Lump crab meat sometimes has stray shell pieces; pick through it quickly before adding.