Ultimate Lobster Mac and Cheese
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!
Servings: 6 servings
Equipment
- Oven Safe Casserole Dish
Ingredients
Cheese Sauce
- 3 tbsp Salted Butter
- 2 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 med Onion finely diced
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- 3 cups Whole Milk (3.25%)
- 2 cups Old (Sharp) Cheddar Cheese shredded
- 1 cup Gruyere Cheese shredded
- 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
- 1 tsp Old Bay Seasoning or Cajun Seasoning
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Dried Parsley Flakes
- 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper optional, to taste
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Other Ingredients
- 2 cups Cooked Lobster Meat or more for a meatier dish
- 500 grams 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!