This Crab Mac and Cheese is the most decadent, heart-melting dish of the entire crabbing season. Fresh crab is folded into a creamy, ultra-cheesy sauce and topped with golden breadcrumbs for the ultimate coastal comfort food you'll crave all year long.
On the coast, we live for fresh Dungeness crab and spend the end of summer crabbing almost daily with family. We wake up early to head to the beach, and come home to clean and cook our bounty - enjoying it every way imaginable. From our go-to Crab Melt Sandwich for a quick lunch, to Crab Pasta with Chimichurri for a fresh, flavorful family favorite, and now this decadent Crab Mac and Cheese, there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate the catch.
Table of Contents
SECRETS TO KEEPING CRAB TENDER AND JUICY
With the most decadent crab dishes comes the juiciest crab, but it's often easily overcooked if one simple step is left out. So I've laid out these top tips to keep crab tender and juicy in this dish:
- Add crab at the very last minute. If nothing else, I like to make sure I always use this tip. Can't skip the importance of it to avoid overcooking.
- Gently fold it in. Being gentle not to mash up the crab so every bite has a big chunk is crucial.
- Heat until warm, not piping hot. More heat = more risk for the crab to dry out. I like to reheat my dish just until it's warmed through.
CRAB MAC AND CHEESE INGREDIENTS
Here's what you'll need to make it, and a few easy ingredient substitute options you can make:
Pasta
I went with the classic macaroni pasta. Though you can choose any small pasta you would like! Gluten-free pasta that's made with rice flour works great as well.
The Crab And Cheese Sauce
Fresh Dungeness crab, lump crab meat, or any fresh crab you can get your hands on work great. We crab for Dungeness here on the Pacific Coast, so it's readily available to us, and you can substitute it for what is available in your region.
The Cheese options are mozzarella and gruyere. I like those two for cheesiness and flavor. You can choose to use double the mozzarella instead of gruyere.
The Crunchy Topping
You'll need breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. I topped mine with zaatar breadcrumbs and it was an exquisite touch! Though you can choose to use crackers or salted breadcrumbs.
HOW TO MAKE CRAB MAC AND CHEESE
I break it into just a few easy steps! First you'll want to make the roux, then add all the sauce ingredients, then fold in the crab, set aside and cook the pasta. Add the sauce and top with breadcrumbs, and bake!
Ultimate Crab Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 lb macaroni noodles 16 oz
- 4 tb butter
- 6 tablespoon flour
- 2.5 cups milk (½ cup removed)
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 cups cheddar
- 2 cups gruyere
- 2 teaspoon Old Bay
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 fresh cracked black pepper
- 2 cups fresh crab meat or lump crab
- 1 cup parmesan to top
- ⅔ cup salted breadcrumbs I used zaatar breadcrumbs
Instructions
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until mixed through and smooth.
- Slowly whisk in 2 cups of milk and the heavy cream, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the mixture thickens.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in cheddar, gruyere, Old Bay, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. If it feels too thick, whisk in the remaining ½ cup milk.
- Remove from heat and gently fold in the crab meat, keeping the chunks as whole as possible.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until just al dente. Drain, and mix with the sauce.
- Pour the crab mac and cheese into a greased baking dish. Sprinkle with parmesan, then with breadcrumbs.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) until golden and bubbling around the edges, about 10-15 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.
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