Crab Macaroni and Cheese

• Seafood

  • 1 lb Lump crab meat, jumbo
  • 1 3/4 tsp Seafood seasoning

• Produce

  • 1 tbsp Italian parsley, fresh

• Condiments

  • 1/2 tsp Mustard, ground

• Pasta & Grains

  • 1 (16 oz dry cavatappi pasta, dry

• Baking & Spices

  • 1/2 cup All-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp Black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic salt

• Bread & Baked Goods

  • 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs

• Dairy

  • 5 cups Borden cheddar and monterey jack cheese
  • 5/8 cup Butter
  • 2 oz Chive & onion cream cheese
  • 1 tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 5 cups Whole milk

Found on melissassouthernstylekitchen.com

Description

Ingredients

• 1 (16) oz dry Cavatappi pasta (Twisted Macaroni)
• 1 lb jumbo lump crab meat
• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1½ tsp seafood seasoning, divided (i.e. Old Bay, Seafood Magic, your favorite)
• ½ tsp garlic salt
• ½ tsp ground mustard
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 2 oz Chive & Onion cream cheese, softened
• 5 cups whole milk
• 5 cups shredded Borden Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, divided
• Topping:
• ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 Tbsp butter, melted
• 1 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
• ¼ tsp seafood seasoning
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh Italian parsley

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
• Cook the pasta in salted water per the package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
• Pick over the crab meat removing any shells and cartilage. Set aside.
• In a medium-size heavy bottomed saucepan melt ½ cup butter over medium heat.
• To the melted butter add the flour, 1½ tsp seafood seasoning, garlic salt, ground mustard and black pepper. Mix until the flour has been absorbed by the butter stirring constantly.
• Gradually whisk in the milk. Whisk constantly to prevent clumping.
• Bring the milk to a boil then immediately lower the heat to low. Simmer for 3-5 minutes gently bubbling stirring to prevent sticking.
• Turn off the heat. Add the cream cheese to the sauce. Stir until melted then add 3 cups of Borden shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese. Remove from the heat, stirring until melted.
• Add the cooked pasta and crab meat to a large mixing bowl.
• Pour the cheese sauce over and mix until fully coated and the crab meat is evenly distributed.
• Pour ½ into the baking dish. Top with 1 cup shredded cheese. Repeat with macaroni then top with the final 1 cup of shredded cheese.
• Topping: Melt the remaining 2 Tbsp of butter in a small microwave safe bowl.. Mix with the panko bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and ¼ tsp seafood seasoning. (Add more or less to your taste) Sprinkle on top.
• Place into the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden and and the edges are bubbly.
• Garnish with chopped parsley just before serving. .