Crab Macaroni & Cheese

Name: Crab Macaroni & Cheese
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 10 servings.
Cuisine: Comfort Food Dinner Recipes, Comfort Food Recipes
Ingredients: 1 package (16 ounces) elbow macaroni; 6 baby portobello mushrooms; 2 green onions, sliced; 1 tablespoon plus 1/4 cup butter, divided; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon ground mustard; 1 teaspoon pepper; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon paprika; 2-1/2 cups half-and-half cream; 1-1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided; 1-1/2 cups shredded medium cheddar cheese, divided; TOPPING:; 1/2 cup panko (Japanese) bread crumbs; 3 tablespoons butter, melted; 1 tablespoon dried basil; 1-1/2 pounds cooked snow crab legs, meat removed; 4 thin slices Swiss cheese; 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Crab and mushrooms put a deliciously different spin on classic macaroni and cheese. It's an upscale casserole for special occasions...but my family could eat it every day!—Angela Ochoa, Lake Elsinore, California

Ingredients

1 package (16 ounces) elbow macaroni
6 baby portobello mushrooms
2 green onions, sliced
1 tablespoon plus 1/4 cup butter, divided
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
2-1/2 cups half-and-half cream
1-1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
1-1/2 cups shredded medium cheddar cheese, divided
TOPPING:
1/2 cup panko (Japanese) bread crumbs
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon dried basil
1-1/2 pounds cooked snow crab legs, meat removed
4 thin slices Swiss cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain pasta and rinse in cold water.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute mushrooms and onions in 1 tablespoon butter until tender; set aside.
In a large saucepan, melt remaining butter. Stir in flour, mustard, pepper, salt and paprika until smooth; gradually add cream. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in 3/4 cup each mozzarella and cheddar cheeses until blended. Remove from heat; fold in macaroni.
Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs, butter and basil. Transfer half the macaroni mixture to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Layer with reserved mushroom mixture, remaining macaroni mixture, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Top with crab and Swiss cheese. Sprinkle with crumb mixture and Parmesan cheese.
Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts

1-1/2 cups: 535 calories, 29g fat (18g saturated fat), 118mg cholesterol, 534mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 25g protein.

Reviews

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Average Rating:

MichelleN101

Dec 30, 2014

This has been my son's birthday dinner choice for 3 years now. He LOVES this! (I omit the mushrooms for him.) 10 servings is a lot of mac and cheese. ;)
kristiie

Aug 14, 2011

The recipe is bursting with flavors and is one of my husbands favorite dish.