Romantic Lobster Mac Cheese (Printable Version)
A rich and creamy lobster mac and cheese ideal for special dinners or indulgent comfort.
# What You Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz elbow macaroni or cavatappi
→ Lobster
02 - 12 oz cooked lobster meat, chopped
→ Cheese Sauce
03 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 1 small shallot, finely minced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
07 - 3 cups whole milk, warmed
08 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
09 - 1 1/2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese
10 - 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp white cheddar
11 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
13 - 1/2 tsp paprika
14 - 1/2 tsp salt
15 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
16 - Pinch cayenne pepper
→ Topping
17 - 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
18 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
19 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta until just al dente, about 1-2 minutes less than package directions. Drain well and set aside.
03 - In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 4 tbsp butter. Add minced shallot and cook for 2 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Sprinkle flour into the saucepan and whisk constantly for 1-2 minutes to form a smooth roux. Do not allow the mixture to brown.
05 - Gradually whisk in warm milk and heavy cream, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Continue whisking for 4-5 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
06 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in Gruyère, white cheddar, and Parmesan until completely melted and smooth. Add Dijon mustard, paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Mix until fully incorporated.
07 - Add cooked pasta and chopped lobster meat to the cheese sauce. Gently fold until evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
08 - Pour the lobster mac and cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly.
09 - In a small bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, and chopped parsley. Mix until breadcrumbs are evenly coated.
10 - Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the pasta. Bake for 18-22 minutes until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling around the edges. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The combination of three cheeses creates an incredibly complex, velvety sauce that you just cannot achieve with one cheese alone
- Lobster transforms ordinary mac and cheese into something that feels luxurious without being pretentious
02 -
- Warm your milk before adding it to the roux, cold milk can cause lumps that are nearly impossible to fix
- Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre shredded, the anti caking coating prevents smooth melting
03 -
- Do not bake the pasta fully on the stove, it will finish cooking in the oven and you want it to have texture, not mush
- Let the cheese sauce cool for just a minute before mixing in the pasta, this helps it coat every piece better