Dine and Dish

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Mac and Cheese Mania {Recipe: Crab Mac and Cheese}

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Crabby Mac and Cheese Recipe from www.dineanddish.netThe surgery I had a few weeks ago kind of knocked me on my rear for a bit. First, I had a reaction to the pain medication. Then, after a few weeks of feeling like absolute crud, I went back into the doctor and discovered I had an infection and was anemic. That pretty much explained why I just wanted to nap all day long, was so moody and couldn’t get up the motivation to do anything. Least of all, cook!

I finally started on an antibiotic this week and feel so much better. My level of energy is way up and my mood has improved as well. And, I finally feel like cooking (and blogging) again!

After weeks of eating out, it felt great to get back into the kitchen. What felt even better was having the first recipe I made, this Crabby Mac and Cheese, be an absolute hit. My husband stated, after chowing down on one serving “This could stand head to head with any of the seafood Mac & Cheese recipes I’ve had in some of the finest restaurants in Boston.” That made my day!

Crab Macaroni and Cheese Recipe from www.dineanddish.net

I’m sharing this incredible Crab Mac & Cheese recipe as part of Mac & Cheese Mania, hosted by my two friends, Rachel from Rachel Cooks and Brandy from Nutmeg Nanny. I hope you’ll visit both their blogs to check out the over 50 different Mac & Cheese recipes submitted by bloggers!

Mac Mania Graphic

 

Also, once you visit their sites, you can find out how to enter to win over $1800 in fabulous prizes. Prizes include Door to Door Organics Gift Cards, OXO Gift Baskets, Zak Designs Prize Pack, a year’s supply of Cabot cheese, a Vermont Creamery gift basket, a risotto kit from Marx Foods, Barilla pasta, Anolon Advanced Bronze 4.5 Qt. Tapered Stockpot, Rachael Ray Stoneware Casseroval, Wusthof CLASSIC Studio Block Set, Microplane Graters and Kitchen Tools, a SavorX Starter Block with spices and Le Cordon Bleu by Swissmar oven to table roasters.

Click over to Rachel Cooks and Nutmeg Nanny to enter to win!

Now, are you ready for this most AMAZING Crab Mac & Cheese Recipe? I made several adaptations to this Lobster Macaroni and Cheese recipe from the Food Network and I feel like I have an absolute winner. I hope you enjoy!

Crabby Mac and Cheese Recipe from www.dineanddish.net
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5 from 2 votes

Crab Seafood Macaroni and Cheese

An amazing Crab Seafood Macaroni and Cheese recipe, ready to rival any Boston seafood restaurants offerings. Recipe adapted from The Neelys Lobster Macaroni and Cheese.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons butter plus 1 tablespoon for greasing dish
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 pound penne pasta I prefer Delallo Foods Penne Pasta
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 4 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Zatarain's Big & Zesty original Creole seasoning
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 pound block Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1/2 pound block Fontina cheese
  • 1 pound crab meat or imitation crab meat, chopped
  • 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Melt 1 tablespoon of butter and brush a 9x13 inch baking dish to grease.
  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain water from pasta and reserve.
  • Meanwhile, add 4 tablespoons butter to a large pot over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add the garlic and sauté until translucent.
  • Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the tomato paste and flour and stir, about 1 minute. Add the chicken broth and reduce by half, about 1 minute. Slowly add the cream, whisking well to remove any lumps.
  • Add the paprika, cayenne, Creole seasoning and bay leaves.
  • Bring the cream up to a simmer. Let cook until the cream is thick and can coat a spoon, about 5 minutes. When thickened, remove the bay leaves with a slotted spoon.
  • Stir in the cubed cheeses, a handful at a time, stirring well after each addition.
  • Add the chopped crab meat to the sauce and stir well.
  • Add the cooked pasta and stir well.
  • Carefully pour into buttered baking dish and sprinkle with panko crumbs.
  • Bake for 25 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.
  • Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes before serving.

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. Les in NE says

    Oh.My.Goodness! We recently discovered Crab Mac & Cheese at a neighborhood bistro last month and after reading your recipe, I know this will be a huge hit with my husband (and me!). We’re trying to eat healthier, but seafood’s good for you, right? 😉 Can’t wait to try this, Kristen. Thanks!
    So glad to hear you’re feeling better!

  12. Sues says

    Delicious!! And now I want to know which Boston restaurants your husband has had amazing seafood mac and cheese dishes at 🙂

  14. rachel says

    Gorgeous! Gorgeous! Gorgeous!
    I adore lobster mac and cheese and crab mac and cheese, and having just returned from NOLA – I’m all over seafood right now.
    Delicious recipe, Kristen! Glad you’re doing better <3

  15. Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts says

    Glad to hear you are feeling better! I fell yesterday and severely sprained my ankle, so I am couch ridden right now. I am going crazy after just 2 days! I can’t imagine what your last couple weeks have been like. This mac n’ cheese looks like pure heaven. Creamy, indulgent, and has crab!

  17. Tieghan says

    So happy you are feeling better. That must have been really tough, but I am glad you are back! And back with a bang! This mac and cheese is calling my name. It looks to die for!

  28. Carol at Wild Goose Tea says

    Gosh, I am glad to hear you are feeling better too, especially with 4 kids. I live in Washington State in a town on salt water. We have crabs! I have had lobster mac and cheese. But hey why bring a shell fish all the way from the east coast.

  29. El says

    I’m sorry to hear about your being sick. Thank goodness for antibiotics- glad you’re on the mend. The mac and cheese should help with recovery. Looks great!

  30. merry lu says

    OH MY! You probably don’t know this about e, but I am CRAZY about anything CRAB! It’s relative unavailability is about the only thing I don’t like about living in KS. I will definitely be making this. SOON! (Though I will have to substitute Old Bay for the Zattarran’s. You can’t take all the Maryland out of the Kansas girl. 🙂

    • merry lu says

      P.S. I am so glad you are finally feeling better, I know it’s no fun to be down for so long. (((HUGS)))

  31. Heidi @foodiecrush says

    Seriously, I could sit with your husband and we could probably both extoll the virtues of your mac n cheese. Look at that velvet cheese layer! I’m happy our mac flavorings both headed to the crustacean regions. Must be something in the water. XO

  32. Rachel Cooks says

    I’m so glad you’re feeling better! And thanks for helping us kick off mac and cheese mania (and for all your great advice re: the event!). I’m not a huge seafood fan but I’m pretty sure I could devour a bowl of this! Looks phenomenal!

  33. Erin @ Texanerin Baking says

    I’m sorry you haven’t been well. 🙁 I’m happy to hear that the medicine is helping, though! And this mac and cheese is amazing. Don’t you just love it when stuff works out the first time? Such a rarity around here so I cherish those moments. 😉

  34. Dawn says

    This looks delicious! We love mac and cheese at our house and crab. I’ve had it before in restaurants, but have never made it. I can’t wait to try your recipe.

  35. Jackie says

    Very interesting idea – I always fool around with my mac ‘n cheese, but crab is something I never thought to add. Intriguing idea, thanks much!

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