Crab Macaroni and Cheese

This rich and creamy Crab Macaroni and Cheese is a standout dish made for special occasions. It works beautifully as either a side or a main course and offers a delicious, budget-friendly way to serve crab meat to a crowd with flair.

Ingredients to Make Crab Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Crab meat probably isn’t the first ingredient that comes to mind when planning a meal for a group, especially since high-quality jumbo lump crab can be pricey. The challenge is finding a way to make it go further without compromising on flavor. That’s exactly how this crab macaroni and cheese was born.

This mac and cheese recipe incorporating crab meat, was first developed for Borden cheese using their shredded cheddar and monterey jack cheese blend. The rich, homemade cheese sauce might seem a bit indulgent, but it’s absolutely worth the effort for both the taste and the “oohs” and “aahs” it brings to the table. This is the kind of macaroni and cheese dish that’s guaranteed to impress.

Checkout this quick list of ingredients you’ll need to make gooey Crab Macaroni and Cheese: (Scroll down for the full printable recipe card.)

• Pasta – One 16 ounce box of dry Cavatappi pasta, corkscrew pasta or twisted macaroni.
• Crab – One pound jumbo lump crab meat elevates this classic dish.
• Cheese – Five cups shredded cheddar and monterey jack cheese expands the flavor profile giving it a gooey, melty texture.
• Roux– Unsalted butter and all-purpose flour forms the base of the homemade cheese sauce.
• Seasonings – Seafood seasoning (i.e. Old Bay seasoning, Seafood Magic use your favorite), garlic salt, ground mustard, black pepper
• Liquid – Whole milk thins the creamy cheese sauce.
• Mix-ins – Chive and onion cream cheese gives the sauce a creamy texture.
• Breadcrumb Topping – Melted unsalted butter, panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, seafood seasoning and fresh Italian parsley.

How to Make the BEST Crab Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

• Heat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish – Preheat the oven and spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Boil Macaroni – Cook the macaroni in salted water per the package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
• Make the Roux – In a heavy bottomed saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Add flour, and seasonings stirring until the flour has been absorbed by the butter stirring constantly.
• Whisk in Milk – Gradually whisk in the milk. Simmer while gently bubbling stirring periodically to prevent sticking.
• Add Cream Cheese and Shredded Cheese – Add cream cheese and shredded cheese, stirring until melted.
• Combine – Add the cooked pasta and crab meat to a large mixing bowl. (If you use a large pot, it can double as the mixing bowl.) Pour in the cheese sauce mixing until fully coated and the crab meat is evenly distributed.
• Transfer to Prepared Dish – Pour into the baking dish and top with cheese.
• Make Breadcrumb Topping – Mix melted butter, panko bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and seafood seasoning. Sprinkle on top.
• Oven – Bake per the recipe until the top is golden brown and it’s bubbly around the edges. Garnish with chopped parsley just before serving.

Kitchen Equipment You’ll Need to Make Crab Mac and Cheese

• Pasta pot or large pot for cooking the macaroni.
• Large saucepan for making the cheese sauce.
• Measuring cups and spoons for measuring the milk, flour and seasonings.
• Large bowl and small bowl for making the crumb topping.
• Cheese grater for grating the Parmesan cheese and if using freshly grated cheese.
• Large spoon for stirring and a whisk for making the roux.
• Oblong 13×9-inch casserole dish for baking.

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

• Pasta – You can use cavatappi pasta, corkscrew pasta or twisted macaroni. You could also use elbow macaroni.
• Protein – You could use dungeness crab or lobster in this dish.
• Cheese – While I developed this recipe using pre-shredded cheese, you can use any other flavor of cheese to customize the flavor. You could use freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese, Gruyere cheese, or a mild Colby jack cheese, if that’s your preference. You could also use pepper jack cheese for spice.
• Bacon – You could add crispy chopped bacon to the macaroni mixture for a smoky flavor.
• Salt – Each brand of seafood seasoning contains a different amount of sodium. Adjust the amount of salt in this recipe based on the brand of seafood seasoning used.
• Spice – You could add a few dashes of hot sauce to the cheese sauce for heat.
• Serving Options – You can serve this crab mac and cheese as a main dish or a side dish.
• Baking Dish Options – You can divide this macaroni and cheese and bake in single servings in ramekins for a fun presentation and portion control. When doing so, make sure you adjust the baking time, smaller ramekins wouldn’t take quite as long to bake.

Storage and Leftovers

• Make-Ahead Tip – You can fully assemble this macaroni and cheese in advance then cool and cover it with plastic wrap and pop it into the refrigerator.
• Bring to Room Temperature – When assembling the dish in advance, allow time on the counter to bring it to room temperature. Around 15-20 minutes on the counter should work then add the breadcrumb topping just before baking.
• Leftovers – Store baked Crab Macaroni and Cheese in an airtight container or covered with aluminum foil chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating – Gently reheat leftovers on 50% power in the microwave in single servings to avoid drying out the crab meat. You can also reheat in a preheated 350°F oven until heated through and the topping is crisped.

More Easy Crab Recipes to Make

Jumbo Lump Carb meat is a pricey addition to the menu and one that you’ll want to make into as many servings as possible. See these other recipes featuring crab to add to your menu plans:

• My Southern style Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes are a special dish for any occasion.
• Crispy Crab Hush Puppies.
• Mouthwatering Kickin’ Crab Salad can double as an appetizer or a main dish meal.
• Crab Rangoon make the perfect starter for any gathering.
• Bite size Sweet Corn and Crab Puffs are so good you can’t stop at just one.
• Scrumptious Kickin Crab Corn Muffins.
• Gooey Hot Pepper Jack Crab Dip.
• Elegant Crab Soufflé Recipe from My Recipes.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Saucepan
• Cheese Grater
• Measuring Set
• 13×9-inch Baking Dish

Disclosure – This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Borden Cheese.  The opinions and text are all mine. Thank you for being supportive and allowing me to share the brands with you that I enjoy.