Why You’ll Love This Seafood Mac and Cheese
If you’re looking for the ultimate comfort food upgrade, this Seafood Mac and Cheese is about to become your new favorite indulgence. I’ve combined three luxurious seafoods—tender shrimp, sweet crab, and buttery scallops—with a velvety cheese sauce that’ll make your taste buds dance.
What makes this dish special? It’s that perfect balance of creamy, cheesy goodness with the delicate flavors of the sea.
The trio of cheeses creates depth while the seafood adds a restaurant-quality twist to a classic. Trust me, once you serve this at your table, ordinary mac and cheese just won’t cut it anymore.
What Ingredients are in Seafood Mac and Cheese?
This seafood mac and cheese recipe brings together the most luxurious ingredients for a truly special dish. You’ll need high-quality pasta and seafood, plus a blend of cheeses that create the perfect creamy sauce. I love how this recipe balances rich, comforting flavors with the delicate taste of the ocean—something that always impresses guests but isn’t actually that complicated to make.
- 1 lb elbow macaroni or cavatappi pasta
- 1 tablespoon salt (for pasta water)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (for sauce)
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups whole milk, warmed
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning (or paprika with a pinch of cayenne)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded (or Swiss)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ lb lump crab meat (or imitation crab)
- ½ lb scallops (small, or larger ones cut in half)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter (for cooking seafood)
- Optional topping: 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons melted butter, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
When shopping for ingredients, the quality of your seafood and cheese makes all the difference. Fresh seafood is ideal, but high-quality frozen shrimp and scallops work well too, just make sure to thaw completely and pat dry before cooking. For the cheese, grating your own rather than using pre-shredded packages results in a much creamier sauce since pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents. And don’t skip the Dijon mustard—it doesn’t make the sauce taste mustardy but enhances the cheese flavor in a subtle way that really elevates the entire dish.
How to Make This Seafood Mac and Cheese
Start by bringing a large pot of water to a boil with 1 tablespoon of salt. Cook 1 lb of elbow macaroni or cavatappi until al dente according to the package directions—you want it just tender but still with a bit of bite since it’ll continue cooking in the oven.
While the pasta boils, prepare your seafood by heating 1 tablespoon of olive oil or butter in a large skillet. Season your ½ lb shrimp, ½ lb scallops, and ½ lb crab meat with a pinch of salt and pepper, then sauté them just until the shrimp turn pink and the scallops are opaque—about 2-3 minutes.
We’re looking for barely cooked seafood here, as it’ll finish in the oven and overcooked seafood gets tough.
Now for the magical cheese sauce that brings everything together. In a large pot, melt 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter over medium heat, then whisk in ¼ cup of all-purpose flour to create a roux.
Cook this mixture for about a minute until it smells slightly nutty, then gradually pour in 4 cups of warmed whole milk and 1 cup of heavy cream, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
Add 2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning (or paprika with cayenne), ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper.
Let this mixture simmer gently until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5-7 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in your 2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar, 1 cup of Gruyère, and ½ cup of Parmesan cheese until completely melted and smooth.
Combine the drained pasta with the cheese sauce, then gently fold in your cooked seafood.
Transfer this luxurious mixture to a buttered baking dish.
For that irresistible crispy topping, mix 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs with 2 tablespoons of melted butter and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese, then sprinkle evenly over the mac and cheese.
Bake in a preheated 375°F oven until bubbly and golden on top, about 25-30 minutes.
Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving—this gives the sauce time to settle and makes for easier, prettier portions.
The contrast between the crispy top and the creamy, seafood-studded pasta beneath is absolutely worth the wait.
Seafood Mac and Cheese Substitutions and Variations
While the classic recipe above creates a showstopping seafood mac and cheese, you can easily adapt it to suit your taste preferences, budget, or what’s available in your seafood case.
I often swap in lobster when I’m feeling fancy (birthday dinner, anyone?), or use just shrimp when the budget’s tight.
The cheese blend is flexible too—try smoked gouda for depth or pepper jack for heat. Can’t find gruyère? Swiss works perfectly.
For a lighter version, sub half-and-half for heavy cream, or go dairy-free with cashew milk and vegan cheeses.
Not a seafood fan in the family? Set some plain mac aside before adding the seafood.
What to Serve with Seafood Mac and Cheese
Pairing the perfect side dishes with seafood mac and cheese elevates this already indulgent meal into a complete dining experience.
I love balancing the richness with something bright and fresh—a simple arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette cuts through the creaminess beautifully.
Roasted asparagus or broccoli works wonders too; the slight char brings contrast to the velvety pasta.
Garlic bread? Always a winner in my book, perfect for soaking up that last bit of cheese sauce (we’ve all been there).
For a fancier dinner party, why not add a light cucumber gazpacho as a starter? Trust me, your guests will be impressed.
Final Thoughts
Diving into seafood mac and cheese has been one of my most satisfying culinary adventures. The marriage of tender shellfish with creamy cheese sauce creates something truly special, a dish that feels both comforting and luxurious.
I’ve found this recipe to be wonderfully adaptable—swap cheeses based on what you have, or change up the seafood mix to suit your preferences.
Sometimes I make it for quiet weeknight dinners, other times for gathering friends around my table.
Truth is, food that brings together simple ingredients in thoughtful ways rarely disappoints. This dish, in all its creamy, seafood-studded glory, proves that point perfectly.
Seafood Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil with 1 tablespoon of salt. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions.
- Heat olive oil or butter in a large skillet. Season seafood with salt and pepper, then sauté just until shrimp turn pink and scallops are opaque, about 2-3 minutes. Set aside.
- In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for about 1 minute until slightly nutty.
- Gradually pour in warmed milk and heavy cream, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
- Add Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5-7 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Combine the drained pasta with the cheese sauce, then gently fold in the cooked seafood.
- Transfer mixture to a buttered baking dish.
- Mix panko breadcrumbs with melted butter and Parmesan cheese, then sprinkle over the mac and cheese.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
