Baked Caribbean Style Seafood Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is pretty good but adding seafood to the recipe takes it to a whole new level. This baked Caribbean style seafood mac and cheese is not just great, it is amazing.

Baked mac and cheese is everyone’s favorite side dish. It always makes an appearance for Thanksgiving and Christmas or for any cookout. Obviously it is loved because of the loads of cheese in it. we love a good mac and cheese, we love our 3-cheese baked mac and cheese but this recipe is now our fave.

This Caribbean style seafood mac and cheese proves that adding seafood to your mac and cheese will make it bomb.

5 from 1 vote

Baked Caribbean Style Seafood Mac and Cheese

This Caribbean style seafood mac and cheese recipe will take your regular mac and cheese to a whole new level. Made with crab and shrimps.

Servings 10

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Ingredients

For the macaroni

• 16 oz Elbow macaroni
• 8 oz Lump crab meat

Seasoning for shrimps:

• 1 lb Shrimps cleaned and deveined
• 1 tbsp Butter
• 1 tsp Paprika
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper

For the cheese sauce

• 8 oz Cream cheese at room temperature
• 2 sprigs Fresh thyme
• 2 medium Pimento peppers sliced thinly
• 2 & 1/2 cups Whole milk at room temperature
• 1 & 1/2 cups Gouda or gruyère cheese grated
• 1/2 cup Grated parmesan
• 2 tbsp All-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp Butter
• 2 tsp Paprika
• 2 tsp Garlic powder
• 1 tsp Onion powder
• 1 tsp Ground cayenne powder
• 1/2 tsp Ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Dried basil
• 1/2 tsp Dried oregano

Instructions

• Cook the elbow macaroni until al dente. Set aside.
• In a bowl add the shrimps and the seasonings. Mix everything together.
• Place a skillet/pan over medium heat. When it is warm, melt the butter then cook the shrimps for 3-5 minutes on each sides. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• In a medium sauce pan over medium-low heat, melt the butter and cook the pimento peppers then stir in the flour. Let it cook for at least 1 minute.
• Gradually stir in the milk then add the fresh thyme and let that simmer for 2-3 minutes.
• Stir in the seasonings along with the cheese :parmesan, cream cheese and 1 cup gouda/gruyère.
• Stir everything together and let it simmer for 5-7 minutes. Making sure to stir regularly.
• Preheat your oven to 180°C/375°F.
• In a large bowl, mix together the cheese sauce, crab meat and shrimps. Add everything to a greased baking dish then sprinkle the 1/2 cup gouda/gruyère cheese on top.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes then broil for 5-7 minutes on 200°C/400°F.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Caribbean