Crab Mac & Cheese

by Nikolai Nikitenko June 23, 2016

Ingenious recipe for crab mac and cheese

There are few comfort foods in the world that fill you up and send your taste buds to their happy place like a big bowl of creamy, steaming macaroni and cheese does. Warm, gooey, savory cheese smothering tender pasta is simple comfort in a bowl. When you add rich, buttery crab meat, you bring this classic favorite to a whole new level. You can use any type of crab, but we love the taste and texture of jumbo king crab legs, and red king crab legs are our favorite. Brown king crab works well, as does blue and red. Why not mix them together, if you happen to have a little of each? Right now, the king crab legs price per pound is very reasonable though, so it's a good time to stock up on the king of crab meat. This recipe is simple enough that anyone can play with it and make adjustments for flavor, and it will still come out perfectly every time. CLICK HERE TO BUY ANY CRAB AND GET 15% OFF AT CHECK OUT

What makes this recipe the best?

The obvious difference in our mac and cheese is the addition of everyone's favorite crustacean, the king crab. However, we also use asparagus for a new flavor kick, and take the fancy-factor up a level with the use of Gruyere or Swiss cheese. We still use the classic cheddar and Parmesan, so you won't miss out on those favorites, but the other cheeses add a new layer of flavor and work very well with crab. You'll also notice we have given you a nice set of options in the ingredient list. This makes adjusting the flavor super simple. After your mac and cheese has baked for about twenty minutes, you'll be in crab and cheese heaven.

Easy and satisfying

This crab mac and cheese recipe is easy to prepare and makes an awesome dinner. While mac and cheese has always been a great side to a hearty meal, chefs have been wondering what to add to keep it exciting. By using the meat from jumbo king crab legs you bring this family favorite from the side lines right to center stage. The king crab has the very best meat of all crabs. Large, tender chunks of white and red meat mixed with this cheesy goodness will have everyone going back for seconds. Grab your apron and utensils, and let's get started with this incredible crab mac & cheese recipe.

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. Italian fusilli or trottole pasta, cooked al dente, drained and kept warm
1 lb. Alaska crab meat (2 lbs. Alaska King , Snow or Dungeness crab legs)
2 cups bite-sized pieces of fresh asparagus (about 9 oz.),
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt garlic salt onion salt
1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 quart non-fat or 1% milk, warmed
1 cup shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
1/2 to 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika and dried thyme

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400^oF.

In a large pot over medium-low heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in the salt, pepper and warm milk. Cook and whisk until sauce has thickened and is smooth. Turn heat to lowest setting; stir in cheeses. Turn off heat; continue stirring until sauce is smooth. Gently blend in the pasta, crabmeat and asparagus. Turn mixture into a spray coated 9x13-inch pan or 8 (1-1/2 cup) baking dishes.

Blend together breadcrumbs, smoked paprika and thyme; sprinkle evenly over pasta. Bake 20 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and topping is browned.

Where to buy Dungeness crab

While people living near crabbing communities can get live Dungeness crab, that's still limited to the short crabbing season. Who wants to wait until just a few months a year to enjoy crab? Certainly not us! That's why Global Seafoods is here to let you buy crab meat, no matter the time of year or where you live. Dungeness crab price per pound can fluctuate throughout the year, but we promise we always have the highest quality crab for the best price, and it's delivered right to your door.