Lobster Macaroni Cheese Herbed (Print version)

Creamy macaroni blended with lobster and topped with crisp herbed breadcrumbs for a flavorful main dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz elbow macaroni

→ Lobster

02 - 2 cooked lobster tails (about 10 oz), meat chopped into bite-sized pieces

→ Cheese Sauce

03 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
05 - 3 cups whole milk
06 - ½ cup heavy cream
07 - 6 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
08 - 3 oz Gruyère cheese, shredded
09 - 2 oz Parmesan cheese, finely grated
10 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
11 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
12 - ½ tsp salt
13 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper

→ Herbed Breadcrumbs

14 - 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs (2 oz)
15 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
16 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
17 - 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
18 - 1 tsp lemon zest
19 - ¼ tsp garlic powder

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni until just al dente, about 1-2 minutes less than package directions. Drain well and set aside.
03 - In a medium saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute to form a roux.
04 - Gradually whisk in milk and heavy cream. Continue whisking until mixture is smooth. Simmer for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
05 - Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in sharp cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan cheeses until completely melted and smooth. Add Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper, mixing well.
06 - Add cooked macaroni and chopped lobster meat to the cheese sauce. Gently fold until evenly coated. Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly.
07 - Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add fresh breadcrumbs and cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in parsley, chives, lemon zest, and garlic powder.
08 - Sprinkle the herbed breadcrumb mixture evenly over the macaroni and cheese in the baking dish.
09 - Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden brown and the cheese sauce is bubbling around the edges. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of three cheeses creates an incredibly velvety sauce that clings perfectly to every elbow of pasta
  • Fresh lobster transforms this humble comfort food into something that feels like a celebration
  • That crispy herbed breadcrumb topping gives you the most satisfying contrast in every single bite
02 -
  • Always grate your own cheese because pre shredded cheese has anti caking agents that make sauces grainy
  • Removing the saucepan from heat before adding cheese is the difference between smooth and separated sauce
  • Letting the dish rest for 5 minutes after baking makes it much easier to serve and lets the flavors settle
03 -
  • Cook your pasta slightly less than the package directs since it will continue cooking in the oven
  • Room temperature ingredients combine more smoothly into a uniform sauce

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