Buttery Old Bay Crab Mac and Cheese
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
45 mins
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Cook Time
35 mins
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Total Time
1 hr 20 mins
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Servings
6 to 8 people
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Course
Side Dish, Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Buttery Old Bay Crab Mac and Cheese
Description
Buttery Old Bay Crab Mac and Cheese combines cooked medium pasta shells with a smooth cheese sauce crafted from a roux of butter and flour, gradually blended with milk and half and half. Sharp cheddar, gruyere, and Parmesan cheeses are melted into the sauce, which receives seasoning from freshly grated nutmeg, salt, pepper, and Old Bay seasoning for a distinctive flavor. Tender lump crab meat is gently stirred into the mixture before pouring into a baking dish.
The dish is topped with crushed Ritz crackers mixed with Old Bay seasoning and melted butter to create a crisp, golden crust when baked at 350°F. The texture balances creamy cheese sauce with firm pasta and a crunchy topping, while the seasoning brings subtle warmth and depth. This mac and cheese variation enriches the traditional recipe with seafood and aromatic spices and can serve as an indulgent main or side dish.
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta shells medium, or rigatoni, or elbow noodles
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup butter unsalted
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups half and half
- 2 ½ cups cheddar cheese freshly grated, sharp
- 1 cup gruyere cheese freshly grated
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese finely grated
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg freshly grated
- 16 ounces crabmeat lump
- Old Bay seasoning
- 2 cups Ritz crackers crushed
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cook the pasta in salted water according to the package directions, until it’s al dente.
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook to create a roux. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, until the mixture is fragrant.
- Slowly stream in the milk and half and half, whisking the entire time. The slower you stream it in, the easier it will thicken and come together. Continue whisking until the milk is smooth and thickened, about 5 full minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low. Add all the grated cheeses except for ½ cup sharp cheddar, 1 handful at a time, stirring completely until melted before adding the next handful. Do this until all the cheese has been added.
- Stir in a pinch of salt and pepper along with the freshly grated nutmeg. Taste and season the cheese sauce more if needed.
- Place the pasta in a baking dish - either a 9x13 inch baking dish or a 5 quart pot. Stir in the lump crabmeat. Pour the cheese sauce on top and stir to mix it all in. Top with the remaining grated cheddar.
- In a bowl, stir together the crushed ritz crackers with the melted butter and old bay. Stir until combined. Sprinkle all over the top of the mac and cheese.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until warm and bubbly and cheesy! Serve immediately.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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