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lobster mac and cheese

Best Baked Lobster Mac and Cheese

5 from 1 vote
Creamy, decadent Lobster Mac and Cheese made with tender cavatappi pasta, sweet chunks of seafood, and a rich Gruyère sauce - ready in 45 minutes. Top with crispy Panko breadcrumbs for the ultimate texture contrast.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 780
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound cavatappi pasta Or use large macaroni
  • 1 pound cooked lobster meat Chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter For the roux
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour To thicken the sauce
  • 2 cups whole milk Warmed slightly
  • 1 cup heavy cream Warmed slightly
  • 2 cups Gruyère cheese Freshly grated
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese Freshly grated
  • 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs For the topping
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chives Chopped for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven For making the cheese sauce
  • 1 Cast iron skillet For baking the dish
  • 1 Cheese grater For freshly grating cheese
  • 1 Whisk For smoothing the roux

Method
 

  1. Cook the cavatappi pasta in heavily salted boiling water until one minute shy of al dente, then drain.
  2. Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until it foams.
    melting butter in a blue dutch oven
  3. Whisk in the flour and cook for two minutes until it smells lightly toasted.
  4. Slowly pour in the whole milk and heavy cream while whisking constantly, simmering until thickened.
  5. Remove from heat and stir in the freshly grated Gruyère and cheddar until smooth.
    adding grated cheese to cream sauce
  6. Gently fold the cooked pasta and chopped seafood into the cheese sauce until coated.
    mixing pasta and lobster into cheese sauce
  7. Transfer to a cast-iron skillet and top evenly with Panko breadcrumbs.
  8. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes until golden brown, then garnish with fresh chives.

Nutrition

Serving: 280gCalories: 780kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 35gFat: 45gSaturated Fat: 28gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 165mgSodium: 850mgPotassium: 420mgFiber: 3gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 1200IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 650mgIron: 3.5mg

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; reheat slowly in the oven with a splash of milk to maintain creaminess. Do not overcook the seafood before baking.

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