Lobster Macaroni Cheese Herbed (Printable Format)
Creamy macaroni with lobster and crispy herbed breadcrumbs for a flavorful indulgence.
# What You Need:
→ 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 Steps:
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 boil. Cook macaroni until al dente according to package directions. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
03 - Melt 3 tbsp butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly to form a smooth paste.
04 - Gradually pour in milk and heavy cream while whisking continuously. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
05 - Remove from heat. Stir in cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan cheeses until completely melted and smooth. Add Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
06 - Add cooked macaroni and chopped lobster meat to the cheese sauce. Fold gently until evenly distributed. Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish.
07 - Melt 2 tbsp butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add fresh breadcrumbs and toast for 2-3 minutes until golden brown, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in parsley, chives, lemon zest, and garlic powder.
08 - Sprinkle herbed breadcrumb mixture evenly over the macaroni and cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes until top is deeply golden and sauce is bubbling around edges.
09 - Let dish rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to set slightly. Serve hot while cheese is still gooey.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The combination of three cheeses creates layers of flavor that keep everyone guessing
- That golden, herbed breadcrumb topping adds the most satisfying crunch
02 -
- Do not skip the step of removing the cheese sauce from the heat before adding your cheese, or it might separate and turn grainy
- Grating your own cheese instead of buying pre shredded makes a huge difference in how smoothly it melts
03 -
- A pinch of cayenne in the cheese sauce adds depth without noticeable heat
- The lemon zest in the breadcrumbs is the secret ingredient that makes the dish taste bright instead of just heavy