Crab Macaroni and Cheese
Rich, cheesy, sweet lump crab macaroni and cheese is made with two kinds of cheese, savory flavors of garlic, mustard and Old Bay Seasoning. Topped with a buttery Ritz cracker crust, this ultimate comfort food is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
Ingredients
Macaroni and Cheese
- 16 oz Elbow Macaroni
- 7 tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 6 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
- 2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
- 1 clove Garlic, Minced
- ½ tsp Ground Mustard
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper
- 1 Small Onion, Diced
- 3 cups Milk
- 1 lb Lump Crab Meat
- 3 cups Gruyere Cheese, Shredded
- 3 cups Yellow Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
Topping
- 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 1 cup Ritz Crackers, Crushed, approx 20, Or use Panko Breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp Grated Romano Cheese
- ¼ tsp Old Bay Seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Ground Black Pepper, to taste
- 3 Spring Onions, chopped , Optional
- 1 tbsp Fresh Italian Parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Cook pasta in salted water per instructions until al dente. Drain & set aside.
- In the pasta pot, melt 7 T butter over medium heat. Add flour, Old Bay, garlic, ground mustard, black pepper, & diced onion to the melted butter. Stir constantly until the flour is absorbed & the onions are translucent - about 3 minutes.
- Gradually whisk in the milk. Whisk constantly to prevent clumping. Bring the milk mixture to a boil and immediately lower the heat to low. Gently simmer for 3 to 5 minutes; stirring to prevent sticking.
- Turn off heat. Add cheeses to the sauce. Stir until melted.
- Add cooked pasta and crab meat to the sauce and mix until fully coated and the crab meat is evenly distributed.
- Pour crab/pasta mixture into baking dish.
- Melt 2 T butter in a small saucepan. Add crushed crackers, Romano cheese, Old Bay and salt & pepper. Mix well.
- Place topping evenly across top of casserole.
- Bake in preheated oven until sauce is bubbly and the top is golden brown, about 25-30 minutes.
- Garnish with spring onions & chopped parsley immediately before serving.