If you love mac and cheese, you’re sure to be head over heels for this lobster mac and cheese recipe. Loaded with shell pasta and delightfully gooey gruyere cheese, every bite will be heavenly. Top with crispy breadcrumbs and more cheese to finish off the perfect side dish or main entree.
Mac and cheese is probably so popular because everyone loves cheese and pasta. Cheese makes everything better and is definitely comfort food. I love it so much, I make this 4 cheese mac and cheese recipe often. I mean, the more cheese the better, am I right?
How to Make
- Prep – Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cook the lobster tails in a pot of boiling salted water for 3-4 minutes. Place the tails in ice-cold water. Using the lobster water, cook your pasta according to the package.
- Make the cheese sauce – Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a skillet. Whisk in the flour and cook for one minute. Add the milk and cook while stirring occasionally until thickened. Remove from the heat and add the cheeses. Add salt, pepper, and pasta.
- Finish the lobster – In a small bowl, mix the breadcrumbs and a tablespoon of melted butter. Set aside. Remove the meat from the lobster tails and cut them into small pieces. Cook in a skillet for one minute with some butter, chives, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Bake – Transfer the Lobster Mac and Cheese to a baking sheet and top with lobster meat and breadcrumb mixture. Bake for ten minutes or until the top is golden brown. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe tips and variations for the ultimate lobster mac and cheese
- Storage – Place in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. I do not suggest freezing as the pasta doesn’t come back very tasty. The freezing process usually changes the texture of the pasta and makes it gooey or grainy.
- Reheating – Reheat in the microwave or in the oven in an oven-safe dish for only a few minutes.
- Switch up the cheeses – If you don’t prefer cheese such as gruyere, simply use your favorite cheese in its place. Do note that changing cheeses can change the flavor and consistency of the recipe.
- How to thin out the cheese sauce – If you feel that your cheese mixture, after being added to the milk, is too thick, you can add a dab of milk at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.
- How to thicken the cheese sauce – If your cheese mixture is looking a little runny, add some more cheddar cheese in there to thicken it up. Be careful to only add a bit at a time though.
- Make it spicy – If you like a little spice to your mac and cheese, some crushed red peppers would do the trick. You could even add some diced jalapeno to the mix.
- Use other short pasta – Running low on shell pasta or fresh out? No problem, you can use any short pasta such as penne, bowtie, rigatoni, elbow macaroni, etc.
- Use the leftovers – You can use up the leftovers to make these Deep Fried Mac & Cheese Balls.
Why is my lobster mac and cheese gritty?
I highly recommend grating the cheese yourself. Pre shredded cheese can cause the mac and cheese to become grainy. Also, make sure to constantly whisk the bechamel sauce. Shredding the cheeses yourself and constantly whisking the sauce will certainly make the perfect mac and cheese.
Should I use lobster tails or claw meat?
I personally prefer chunks of juicy lobster tail however this comes down to personal preference and what your budget allows. Use whatever you like best or whatever is on sale.
More Delicious Recipes:
- Loaded Mac and Cheese
- Five Cheese Macaroni and Cheese
- Southern Mac and Cheese
- Crockpot Mac and Cheese
- 4 Cheese Mac and Cheese
You can find more delicious recipes and cooking tutorial videos on Youtube and Facebook.
Lobster Mac and Cheese
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 624kcal
If you love mac and cheese, you’re sure to be head over heels for this Lobster Mac and Cheese. Loaded with shell pasta and delightfully gooey gruyere cheese, every bite will be heavenly. Top with crispy breadcrumbs and more cheese to finish off the perfect side dish or main entree.
Ingredients
- 2 or more lobster tails
- 1 lb shell pasta
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 tbsp all purpose flour
- 4 cups whole milk
- 2 cups cheddar cheese
- 1 cup gruyere cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
Lobster Meat:
- 1 tsp chives
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- salt and pepper to taste
Breadcrumbs:
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Fill a large pot with water and salt and bring to a boil. Cook the lobster tails for 3-4 minutes.
- Place the lobster tails in ice-cold water.
- In the same pot, you cooked the lobster tails, cook the pasta according to packaging instructions.
- While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet and melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter.
- Whisk in the flour and cook the butter/flour mixture for 1 minute.
- Stir in the milk and cook until thickened, stirring occasionally.
- Once the sauce thickens, turn off the heat and add the cheeses.
- Season with salt and pepper and then add the pasta shells.
- In a small bowl combine the breadcrumbs and 1 tbsp melted butter.
- Remove the lobster tails from the ice water and remove the meat from the shells.
- Cut the lobster meat into bite-size pieces.
- In a small skillet add some butter, lobster meat, chives, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
- Place the mac and cheese into a baking sheet and sprinkle the lobster meat on top. Cover with remaining cheese and breadcrumbs.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until the top is nicely golden brown.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Serve as a main entree or as a side.
Nutrition
Calories: 624kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 410mg | Potassium: 374mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1095IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 550mg | Iron: 1.6mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @cookedbyjulie or tag #cookedbyjulie!
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