Garlic Butter Lobster Mac and Cheese (Printable)

Creamy mac and cheese with tender lobster in garlic butter sauce, topped with golden cheesy crust.

# Ingredient List:

→ Seafood

01 - 2 lobster tails, shells removed, meat chopped

→ Pasta

02 - 12 oz elbow macaroni or cavatappi

→ Garlic Butter

03 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 4 cloves garlic, minced

→ Cheese Sauce

05 - 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
06 - 3 cups whole milk
07 - 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
08 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
09 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - ½ tsp salt
11 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
12 - ¼ tsp smoked paprika

→ Topping

13 - ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
14 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
15 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
16 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente, about 1 minute less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Melt 4 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add lobster meat and cook for 2–3 minutes until just opaque. Remove lobster with a slotted spoon and set aside.
04 - Sprinkle flour into the same skillet and whisk for 1 minute to cook out raw flour taste.
05 - Gradually whisk in milk, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Cook until thickened, about 4–5 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Add Gruyère, cheddar, and Parmesan cheeses, stirring until melted and smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
06 - Stir cooked pasta and lobster meat into the cheese sauce, mixing gently to combine. Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish.
07 - In a small bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, and Parmesan cheese. Mix until evenly coated.
08 - Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture evenly over the pasta. Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until topping is golden brown and sauce is bubbling around the edges.
09 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to set. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The way the garlic butter infuses every single noodle makes this impossible to stop eating
  • Restaurant worthy results that come together faster than you'd expect
  • That golden crispy topping against the creamy cheese sauce is basically everything
02 -
  • Undercook your pasta by one minute since it will continue cooking in the oven
  • Don't walk away from the cheese sauce constant stirring prevents lumps
  • Room temperature milk incorporates smoother than cold
03 -
  • A splash of dry white wine in the cheese sauce adds incredible depth
  • Pat your lobster meat dry before cooking to prevent watery sauce
  • Toast your panko breadcrumbs in a dry pan first for extra crunch

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