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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.