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Ultimate Lobster Mac and Cheese is a delicious cheesy baked pasta recipe featuring an indulgent 4 cheese sauce, chunks of tender fresh lobster, al dente pasta and baked until golden brown to create the most delicious comforting dish! It’s the perfect main course or side dish that everyone will love!
Want more cheesy, creamy pasta goodness? Check out this Creamy Tomato Pesto Shrimp Pasta, or my Creamy Sun Dried Tomato and Spinach Seafood Pasta and this One Pot Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage!
Table of Contents
- Ultimate Lobster Mac and Cheese
- Check Out These Other Seafood Pasta Recipes
- What is Seafood Mac & Cheese?
- What You Need to Make Ultimate Lobster Mac and Cheese
- How to Make the Ultimate Lobster Mac & Cheese
- The Pasta
- The Cheese Sauce
- The Topping
- Putting it Together
- Fresh or Frozen Lobster Tails?
- How to Cook Lobster Tails (Different Ways to Cook Lobster Tails)
- Ultimate Lobster Mac and Cheese Recipe Notes & Tips
- Other Seafood Dinner Recipes to Try
- Ultimate Lobster Mac and Cheese Recipe
- DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
- ARE YOU STILL HUNGRY?
Ultimate Lobster Mac and Cheese
Growing up in a Caribbean household, comfort food was definitely something we had often. Foods that were rich and savoury, foods that took time to make. Foods where with every bite you felt the love and energy of the person making it. This Ultimate Lobster Mac and Cheese recipe is the 2.0, the must try, the definitely will love version of the traditional Mac and Cheese recipe. It’s the one for the comfort dish lovers, and seafood lovers, like myself. It’s one for the ooey gooey cheese lovers like myself and those who just want to eat good…like myself!
Here’s why I love this Ultimate Lobster Mac and Cheese recipe:
- Perfect for special occasions, holidays, and everyday family dinners
- It’s cheesy, savoury, creamy and full of indulgent flavours
- The perfect way to combine seafood + pasta + cheese into one baked deliciousness
I’m almost certain, that if you grew up in North America you’ve tried mac and cheese as a kid (the box kind). But this is the grown folks version, the upgraded, indulgent, delicious, cheesier, creamier version. Leave a comment below letting me know if you ate mac and cheese growing up, and how you like The Seasoned Skillet version – I hope you enjoy!
Check Out These Other Seafood Pasta Recipes
- Creamy Sun Dried Tomato & Spinach Seafood Pasta
- One Pot Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage
- Creamy Shrimp & Broccoli Alfredo Pasta
What is Seafood Mac & Cheese?
I call it an elevated cheesy seafood baked pasta. It’s a beautiful combination of al dente macaroni pasta, a creamy cheese sauce, a blend of herbs and spices, and of course lobster. The cheese sauce, lobster, and macaroni are then mixed together until combined, transferred to a oven-safe casserole dish topped with seasoned panko breadcrumbs and baked to a golden perfection!
What You Need to Make Ultimate Lobster Mac and Cheese
- Butter
- Milk or Cream
- Monterey Jack Cheese
- Old Cheddar Cheese
- Cream Cheese
- Fresh Lobster Meat
- Onion
- Garlic
- Scoobi Doo or Cavatappi Pasta
- Panko Breadcrumbs
- All-Purpose Flour
- Salt
- Smoked Paprika
- Dried Parsley Flakes
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Old Bay or Cajun Seasoning
How to Make the Ultimate Lobster Mac & Cheese
Before we begin, here is the number one tip for this recipe – taste as you go! Everyone’s taste buds and tolerances are different, and seasoning is always based on preference. You can adjust as you go, based on your desired taste!
The Pasta
Firstly, you want to start by boiling your pasta to al dente. Your pasta will continue to cook while baking, as such al dente is the perfect place to remove from heat, and drain.
The Cheese Sauce
Secondly, you move onto the cheese sauce, the star of the show, the main act! Start with your roux, it’s the base of the cheese sauce. A roux is flour and fat (butter) cooked together and used to thicken sauces. Rigorously whisk, and once combined pour in your milk or cream and stir. Next, you add in your chopped onions, and minced garlic – cook until fragrant and translucent. Now you guessed it, its cheese time. Add heaping spoonfuls of cheese, and stir in, mixing until melted and well combined. Ensure you whisk and stir away any lumps! Finally, add in your herbs and spices, adjust to your liking and viola, your cheese sauce is complete!
Once done, combine the pasta and the cheese sauce.
TSS Tip: Buy block cheese and shred yourself. Pre-shredded cheese have a starchy coating to prevent each piece from sticking together. The result, your mac and cheese will be drier and less cheesy.
The Topping
Thirdly, you want to prepare your cheesy crumb topping. Start by combining panko bread crumbs, add a tablespoon of butter, good ole’ old bay seasoning, smoked paprika, and parsley until crumbly. Next, shred more cheese if you’ve run out ’cause you definitely want to add this on top as well!
Putting it Together
Lastly, it’s finally time put it together and toss it (not really, more like gently place) in the oven. You want to pour the cheesy pasta into an oven-safe casserole dish, and top with bread crumbs and shredded cheese. Bake on 375 degree Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly along the edges and golden brown.
Fresh or Frozen Lobster Tails?
You can use either fresh or frozen lobster tails, for this recipe I used frozen. When using frozen tails be sure to thaw them overnight in the refrigerator or place them in a pot of cold water for 30 minutes or more, until fully thawed.
How to Cook Lobster Tails (Different Ways to Cook Lobster Tails)
- Broiled: This is my favourite way to prepare lobster tails. It’s quick and easy, and yields the best and consistent results every time. Prepared in the oven under high heat on the broiler setting.
- Grilled: This is my second favourite way of preparing of lobster tails. Especially if you love the grill, preparing lobster this way way will be a treat.
- Baked: Prepared very similar to the broiled method, except with normal baking temps. This required extra cooking time as well as a less tender result.
- Poached: Also known as butter poaching where the lobster tail meat is gently cooked in melted butter with a gentle simmer but never comes to a full a boil.
- Boiled: This is one of the simplest, mose carefree and effortless ways to prepare lobster tails, however does not yield the best flavour. Prepared by boiling a pot of water and letting the tails boil for a few minutes.
Ultimate Lobster Mac and Cheese Recipe Notes & Tips
- Don’t Overcook the Pasta – slightly undercook your pasta to avoid it from overcooking into a mush when added to the cheese sauce.
- The Roux – do not burn the roux. If it becomes too dark it will lend a burned flavour to the entire dish.
- Don’t Skimp on the Cheese – the pasta should be completely coated with more to spare in the cheese sauce
- Add More Seafood – feel free to substitute or add in cooked shrimp or crab meat in the place of or in addition to the lobster
- Don’t Overcook in Oven – be sure not to overcook your pasta in the oven, causing it to dry out.
Other Seafood Dinner Recipes to Try
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Shrimp (Low Carb/Keto Friendly) & White Wine Garlic Butter Lobster Tails
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Ultimate Lobster Mac and Cheese
Equipment
- Oven Safe Casserole Dish
Ingredients
Cheese Sauce
- 3 tbsp Salted Butter
- 2 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Onion, medium, finely diced
- 4 Cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 1/4 cups Whole Milk (3.25%)
- 1 1/2 cups Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded
- 1 1/2 cups Old (Sharp) Cheddar Cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup Philadelphia Cream Cheese, cubed, soften to room temperature
- 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Dried Parsley Flakes
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Old Bay Seasoning, or Cajun Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper, optional, to taste
- 1/4 tsp Salt, more or less to taste
Other Ingredients
- 2 cups Cooked Lobster Meat, or more for a meatier dish
- 3-4 cups Cavatappi Pasta, or Scoobi Doo pasta
- Olive Oil
Breadcrumb Topping
- 1 tbsp Unsalted Butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- 1 1/2 tsp Dried Parsley Flakes
- 1/4 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning, or Cajun Seasoning
Cheese Topping
- 3/4 cup Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded
- 3/4 cup Old Cheddar Cheese, shredded
- 3 tbsp Parmesan Cheese, shredded
Instructions
Preheat Oven & Prep Ingredients
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook pasta according to package instructions or al dente, then drain and set aside with a dash of olive oil to prevent from sticking. Then in a small bowl, combine seasonings – smoked paprika, parsley flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, Old Bay seasoning, salt and set aside.
Make Cheese Sauce
- Heat a wide shallow pan over medium-high heat and melt butter. Add all-purpose flour, whisking vigorously until the mixture begins to thin and bubble then reduce heat to medium and continue stirring.
- Add finely diced onions and minced garlic. Cook in roux (flour butter mixture) until fragrant and translucent – be sure not to burn it. Pour milk or cream into the pan, and whisk continuously to avoid clumping.
- Reduce heat to low and gradually, starting with 1/2 cup of monterey jack cheese, add cheese to mixture and whisk until melted and incorporated. Continue to add remainder of cheeses (monterey jack and old (sharp) cheddar) in 1/2 cup increments until done. Then add in the cream cheese and whisk until melted and all ingredients incorporated.
- Season the cheese sauce mixture with the prepared dry seasonings, stirring continuously to combine. Taste test your cheese sauce; add cayenne pepper if you like a touch of heat, additional salt etc. to your liking.
- Stir in 3/4 of cooked lobster meat into the cheese sauce mixture and save 1/4 to top the dish. Fold pasta gradually into sauce, until well incorporated and set aside (you may want to add all the pasta or a little less).
Breadcrumb Topping
- In a medium sized bowl, combine unsalted butter, panko breadcrumbs, dried parsley flakes, smoked paprika, Old Bay (or cajun) seasoning, and mix together until a crumbly consistency has formed.
Assemble
- In a medium to large sized oven-safe casserole dish, transfer heaping spoonfuls of lobster mac and cheese to create a bottom layer. Then add a layer of shredded cheese (monterey and old (sharp) cheddar cheese). Finish with a final layer of lobster mac and cheese.
- Top with remaining lobster meat, shredded cheese (monterey, old (sharp) cheddar and parmesan cheese). Add breadcrumb mixture, and place in oven for 25 minutes, or until bubbly along the edges and golden brown. Remove from oven, serve and enjoy!
Video
This recipe turned out great. Easy and tasty
So glad you enjoyed! Thank you Tanisha (aka my name twin!)!
A few years ago for my Mother’s Day dinner, I ordered this dish. It tasted like the mac & cheese was shown a lobster. No flavor at all! Your has big chunks of lobster meat and tons of lobster flavor! I should take your recipe back to that crappy restaurant, to they can get their life together.
Like you, I’m a seafood and comfort food lover. I can’t believe I’ve never made this before, so I’m happy to have found your recipe.
This Mac n cheese was gone in a matter of minutes! It was so good that we had to make another pan because we couldn’t stop taking huge spoonfuls. Lol thanks so much for this recipe!
You are speaking my love language fluently with this lobster Mac and cheese! This was so creamy and delicious! Needless to say, we had zero leftovers! Thank you for sharing!!
This is the ultimate comfort meal! I love the mix of cheese and the lobster! My family devoured the whole dish! Thank you for the recipe!
OMG SO GOOD! I made this for dinner on Saturday and it was gone so fast! I added a little extra lobster because why not? Thanks for an amazing recipe!
I never would have attempted lobster mac at home without this recipe. Came out wonderfully. Thank you!
Do you pre cook lobster? Or it cooks in the dish?
Hi Amanda, yes – you will add cooked lobster meat to the dish then proceed to fold in the pasta! Hope you enjoy!
I’m being asked to make lobster mac and cheese for a rehearsal dinner for 65 people, and this recipe sounds great. What part of this recipe could you suggest would be good to do ahead of time? Do you have any advice for how to calculate feeding that many people on this dish?
Hi Kharis! This is awesome – and thank you for thinking about using my recipe…it will not disappoint! I’m going to be testing the make-ahead version of this recipe and I will share in the blog post above! As for servings… I would x3 this recipe and bake in a large disposable aluminium tray for 65 people. I think at parties most people take a little bit of everything + this is decadent so you should be ok with tripling the recipe! Hope this helps!
How did you cook the lobster meat prior?
Hi Gigi, I just updated the blog post with several ways in which you can cook lobster meat! Take a look and let me know if you still have questions!
The best lobster Mac and cheese! I would never make it because I love the taste of straight up lobster. But one year, for some reason, I saw your recipe and decided to make it. So, so glad I did!!! So much flavor and it doesn’t take away from the flavor of the lobster. This is the only recipe I use!
Well, this was my first attempt at making lobster mac & cheese, and the recipe turned out. Perfect! I added more garlic and a little more old bay just because my family likes things very seasoned especially when it comes to seafood, but the recipe was easy took a little time to get everything shredded up, but it was completely worth it. I replaced a cup of the sharp cheddar cheese with a cup of shredded Gruyere and the taste is amazing. I will definitely be serving this again maybe at the holidays to blow everybody’s mind. Thanks again for sharing your awesome recipe.
Hi Rene!! This was so awesome to read!! So glad you and the family enjoyed – it’s definitely such a treat!! Thanks so much for sharing your personal touches as well!!
Can you assemble this ahead of time (how long) and bake later? Assemble Wednesday and bake Friday?
Hi Margaretta, you can definitely assemble first then bake but I would do so within a day or so. I will give it a try first then update the blog post with precise notes!