Best Baked Crab Mac Cheese Recipes

SEAFOOD MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil add 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Heat the remaining tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until they start to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the crab and cook, stirring occasionally, until the crab starts to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Scoop the contents of the skillet into a bowl and set aside.
• Deglaze the skillet with the sherry and reduce for about 5 minutes. Add the butter to melt, then add the flour and cook, stirring, until there are no remaining clumps. Whisk in the heavy cream, milk, parsley, tarragon, thyme, mustard and paprika, followed by the Gruyere, Parmesan and 8 ounces of the Cheddar. Bring to a simmer, then lower the heat and simmer on low for 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, add the noodles to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain the noodles and return them to the pot (I like to just leave a little pasta water in the pot when I drain it). Add the cheese sauce, cream cheese and crab and mix well. (If the mixture is too stiff, add some pasta water 1/4 cup at a time.) Season with more salt and pepper, if needed.
• Pour the mixture into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Layer the remaining 4 ounces Cheddar evenly over the top. Bake until the cheese is nice and brown, 10 to 15 minutes. (Be careful, the cheese may bubble over in the oven.) Let rest for 15 to 20 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with parsley.

CRAB MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the pasta: In a large pot, bring 4 quarts water and the salt to a rolling boil. It should taste like seawater. Stir in the macaroni and cook but leave quite firm, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking liquid.
• For the sauce: In a medium pot, reduce the wine over medium heat until the liquid measures about 1/2 cup, 5 to 8 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the cream, mustard and a pinch of salt. Bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in the Swiss cheese, Cheddar, Parmesan, Worcestershire and hot sauce and warm until the cheese melts, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add the macaroni to the cream mixture and stir gently to blend. Allow the macaroni to rest on the stove so the pasta absorbs the flavors, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer half of the macaroni to a 9-by-13-inch oven-proof baking dish, sprinkle with half of the crab in an even layer. Gently layer on the remaining macaroni, and then another layer of crab.
• For the topping: In a medium bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, parsley and Swiss cheese. Top the pasta with the breadcrumbs and bake until browned and hot, 15 to 20 minutes.

CRAB MAC 'N' CHEESE BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and grease a medium baking dish. Cook the macaroni following pack instructions.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a thick-bottomed pan and add the flour to make a thick paste, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon. Add the milk, little by little, to the paste, mixing until smooth. Cook over a medium heat, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens.
• Remove from the heat, add 150g cheese and whisk until smooth. Mix in the mustard, ketchup and cayenne. Drain the macaroni and return to the pan. Stir the cheese sauce into the cooked pasta, fold in the brown crabmeat and season.
• Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 50g cheese on top and bake in the oven for 25-30 mins until heated through. Remove from the oven and stand for 10 mins.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the crab topping with some seasoning. Serve a big spoonful on top of each portion of the bake, then scatter over the dressed rocket (see 'Goes well with'). If making ahead, cool completely and leave in the fridge overnight. The next day, cut into slabs and reheat (covered in foil) for 10 mins in the oven at 200C/180C fan/gas 6.