Garlic Butter Lobster Mac and Cheese (Printable Version)
Creamy elbow pasta loaded with tender lobster meat in a rich garlic butter cheese sauce, finished with a crispy Parmesan breadcrumb topping.
# What You'll Need:
→ Seafood
01 - 2 lobster tails (about 8 oz each), shells removed, meat chopped
→ Pasta
02 - 12 oz elbow macaroni or cavatappi
→ Garlic Butter
03 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
→ Cheese Sauce
05 - 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
06 - 3 cups whole milk
07 - 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
08 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
09 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - ½ tsp salt
11 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
12 - ¼ tsp smoked paprika
→ Topping
13 - ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
14 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
15 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
16 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until just al dente, about 1 minute less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a large skillet, melt 4 tbsp butter over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add lobster meat and cook for 2–3 minutes until just opaque. Remove lobster with a slotted spoon and set aside.
04 - In the same skillet, sprinkle in flour and whisk for 1 minute to cook out the raw flour taste. Gradually whisk in milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
05 - Continue cooking the sauce until thickened, about 4–5 minutes. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon.
06 - Reduce heat to low. Add Gruyère, cheddar, and Parmesan cheeses, stirring until melted and smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
07 - Stir in cooked pasta and lobster meat, mixing gently to combine. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish.
08 - In a small bowl, combine panko, melted butter, and Parmesan. Sprinkle evenly over the pasta mixture.
09 - Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until topping is golden brown and sauce is bubbling around the edges.
10 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The combination of tender lobster and creamy cheese sauce feels like a warm hug that still knows how to dress up for a night out
- That crispy Parmesan panko topping creates this incredible texture contrast that keeps everyone going back for seconds
02 -
- Overcooking the lobster makes it rubbery and sad, so pull it from the pan as soon as it turns opaque
- The sauce might look thin when you first combine it, but it thickens up beautifully in the oven
03 -
- Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded bags, which contain anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting
- Room temperature ingredients blend more easily, so take your milk and eggs out of the fridge about 20 minutes before starting