Garlic Butter Lobster Mac and Cheese (Print Version)
Creamy pasta with succulent lobster in rich garlic butter sauce, topped with golden cheesy crust.
# What You'll Need:
→ Seafood
01 - 2 lobster tails (about 8 oz each), 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
# Directions:
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 well and set aside.
03 - Melt 4 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add chopped 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 with remaining butter. Whisk constantly for 1 minute to cook out raw flour taste.
05 - Gradually whisk in milk, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Cook until sauce thickens, about 4–5 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Add Gruyère, cheddar, and Parmesan cheeses, stirring until completely melted and smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
06 - Stir cooked pasta and lobster meat into cheese sauce, mixing gently to coat evenly. Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish.
07 - In a small bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, and grated Parmesan. Mix until breadcrumbs are evenly coated.
08 - Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture evenly over pasta. Bake for 15–18 minutes until topping is golden brown and sauce is bubbling around edges.
09 - Let dish rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to set. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The combination of succulent lobster and velvety cheese sauce feels like restaurant quality comfort food without the restaurant price tag when you catch lobster on sale
- Everything comes together in one baking dish, meaning less cleanup and more time enjoying the company you're feeding
02 -
- Don't skip the step of cooking the pasta slightly less than directed, it will finish cooking in the cheese sauce and nobody wants mushy mac and cheese
- Grating your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded makes a huge difference in how smoothly the sauce comes together
03 -
- Pat your lobster meat dry before cooking to avoid any excess water in your sauce
- Watch the garlic carefully in the butter, it can go from fragrant to bitter faster than you'd expect