How do you make mac and cheese extra special? Then you need to make this Lobster Mac and Cheese! Curly pasta is coated in a creamy, cheesy, lobster-infused sauce. I would even venture to say that this mac and cheese is totally romantic!
The ultimate comfort food is mac and cheese! But just because it’s comfort food doesn’t mean it can’t be fun and romantic too. Serve this creamy lobster mac and cheese with this Beef Tenderloin Recipe for the ultimate meal! This dish would be perfect for serving up around Valentine’s Day, Birthdays, or Anniversaries but it would also just be great any day of the summer.
What Is Lobster Mac and Cheese?
This lobster mac and cheese recipe is a take on my popular Crab and Bacon Mac and Cheese recipe, but the only protein found in this recipe is lobster meat. This recipe is baked in a 9 x 13-inch dish and topped with a crunchy bread crumb topping making it a perfect blend of tender lobster, cheesy soft pasta, and crispy bread crumb topping.
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Onion
- Butter
- Flour
- Milk
- Gouda
- Gruyere
- Lobster meat
- Cavatappi pasta
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Parmesan cheese
For the exact measurements, please see the recipe card below.
How To Make Creamy Lobster Mac and Cheese
- Prepare the pasta according to the package directions until they are al dente. season the pasta water with salt if desired. drain and then set aside.
- In a large saucepan, heat the butter until melted, and then whisk in the flour and cook for one minute. Slowly add in the milk, whisking until smooth. let the milk come to a slow bubble before adding in the cheeses. Continue stirring to combine.
- When the pasta is ready, drain it and add to the cheese mixture. Stir in the lobster meat.
- Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13 baking dish.
- In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons of melted butter, panko breadcrumbs, and parmesan cheese.
- Sprinkle the mixture over the top of the pasta and then bake in the oven at 375 degrees F for 25 minutes or until bubbly.
Substitutions
Feel free to play around with the pasta shapes. I used cavatappi, but any curly pasta will do. You just want a shape that will hold all that creamy cheese sauce!
Heavy cream or half and half can be used for the milk, also, whole milk is a great option in this recipe!
I used a mixture of Gouda and Gruyere cheeses, but you can use almost any cheese that melts easily. Monterey Jack, Fontina, sharp cheddar cheese, Asiago, Parmesan, cream cheese, mascarpone, and mozzarella are all fine options for a real creamy mac and cheese!
Fresh lobster is the best, but in a pinch, you can use imitation lobster meat, crab meat, or even shrimp.
FAQs
Can Lobster Mac and Cheese Be Made Ahead?
I often make mac and cheese in advance! Just prepare the recipe as directed, but do not bake. Instead, cover the baking dish with foil and refrigerate it until needed. When ready, allow the pasta to come to room temperature while the oven preheats. When the oven is ready, bake the pasta as per the recipe instructions.
Can Lobster Mac and Cheese Be Frozen?
Yes! If you wanted to prepare this in advance and freeze it for later, you complete the same steps as above, however, do not add the bread crumb topping. Cover the cooled pasta with plastic wrap and then with foil and place in the freezer. This mac and cheese can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready, allow the pasta to thaw in the fridge. Prepare the bread crumb topping and sprinkle it over the pasta and then bake as directed.
What Pairs Well With Lobster Mac and Cheese?
Lobster mac and cheese can certainly stand alone but it also pairs nicely with so many protein dishes. I like to serve this with Herb Crusted Pork Roast, Beef Tenderloin, or Baked Chicken. A lemony kale salad makes for a great side!
More Mac and Cheese Recipes
Lobster Mac and Cheese
This lobster mac and cheese has lobster meat and pasta coated in the luxuriously creamy cheese sauce! This pasta dish easy and elegant!
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup diced onion
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups of milk
- 2 cups shredded Gouda
- 1 cup shredded Gruyere
- 12 oz lump lobster meat
- 1 lb cavatappi pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare pasta according to package directions, seasoning paste with salt.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat, add onion and cook until soft. Set aside
- In a large saucepan, melt butter. Add flour with a whisk and cook for one minute. Slowly add milk, whisking until smooth. Let the milk come to a slow bubble, then add shredded cheeses and continue to stir.
- When pasta is ready, drain and add to cheese mixture. Stir in lobster and onions.
- Pour mixture into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish.
- In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons melted butter, Panko, and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over pasta.
- Bake in a 375-degree oven for 25 minutes or until bubbly.
[…] Lemons for Lulu brings a whole new twist to the ultimate comfort food of mac and cheese: adding lobster into the mix. You can even prepare this dish in advance and freeze it for a meal later in the week or up to three months. […]