Crab Macaroni and Cheese
Housewives of Frederick County
Rich, cheesy, sweet lump crab macaroni and cheese is made with two kinds of cheese, savory flavors of garlic, mustard and Old Bay Seasoning. Topped with a buttery Ritz cracker crust, this ultimate comfort food is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 45 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr
Course Dinner, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Macaroni and Cheese
- 16 oz Elbow Macaroni
- 7 tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 6 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
- 2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
- 1 clove Garlic, Minced
- ½ tsp Ground Mustard
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper
- 1 Small Onion, Diced
- 3 cups Milk
- 1 lb Lump Crab Meat
- 3 cups Gruyere Cheese, Shredded
- 3 cups Yellow Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
Topping
- 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 1 cup Ritz Crackers, Crushed, approx 20, Or use Panko Breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp Grated Romano Cheese
- ¼ tsp Old Bay Seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Ground Black Pepper, to taste
- 3 Spring Onions, chopped , Optional
- 1 tbsp Fresh Italian Parsley, chopped
Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
Cook pasta in salted water per instructions until al dente. Drain & set aside.
In the pasta pot, melt 7 T butter over medium heat. Add flour, Old Bay, garlic, ground mustard, black pepper, & diced onion to the melted butter. Stir constantly until the flour is absorbed & the onions are translucent - about 3 minutes.
Gradually whisk in the milk. Whisk constantly to prevent clumping. Bring the milk mixture to a boil and immediately lower the heat to low. Gently simmer for 3 to 5 minutes; stirring to prevent sticking.
Turn off heat. Add cheeses to the sauce. Stir until melted.
Add cooked pasta and crab meat to the sauce and mix until fully coated and the crab meat is evenly distributed.
Pour crab/pasta mixture into baking dish.
Melt 2 T butter in a small saucepan. Add crushed crackers, Romano cheese, Old Bay and salt & pepper. Mix well.
Place topping evenly across top of casserole.
Bake in preheated oven until sauce is bubbly and the top is golden brown, about 25-30 minutes.
Garnish with spring onions & chopped parsley immediately before serving.
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