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Are you ready to elevate your mac and cheese game? This Baked Lobster Mac and Cheese offers the ultimate comfort food with a luxurious twist. Perfect for special occasions or when you just want to treat yourself, this dish combines creamy, cheesy goodness with the rich, succulent flavor of lobster.
As a kid, I dreamed about lobster mac and cheese. It felt like the height of fancy dining, something you’d only get at a restaurant. Now, I feel thrilled to make it at home! Growing up in NYC, I’ve always loved blending comfort food and gourmet experiences. This recipe brings those two worlds together.
If you love cheesy hearty dishes check out my Baked Ziti For Two.
Ingredients for lobster mac and cheese
Elbow Macaroni- I love using elbow macaroni because it holds the cheese sauce so well. Cook it just until a little under al dente for the perfect texture.
Cooked Lobster Meat- Using the meat from two whole lobsters adds a luxurious touch. It’s rich, tender, and pairs perfectly with the creamy cheese sauce.
Butter- Six tablespoons of butter help create a rich base for the roux. It’s essential for that creamy texture.
Colby Jack Cheese- This cheese adds a nice melty texture. Remember to save 1/4 cup on the side for the topping.
Smoked Gouda- Smoked gouda brings a unique, smoky flavor that elevates the dish. Save 1/4 cup on the side.
Sharp Cheddar- Sharp cheddar is the star of the show, adding a bold, tangy flavor. Save 1 1/4 cups on the side for extra cheesiness.
Flour- Half a cup of flour helps thicken the cheese sauce to the perfect consistency.
Heavy Cream- One cup of room-temperature heavy cream makes the sauce extra rich and creamy.
Milk- Two cups of room-temperature milk ensure the sauce is smooth and velvety.
Smoked Paprika- One teaspoon of smoked paprika adds a hint of smokiness and a beautiful color.
Pepper- Half a teaspoon of pepper for a bit of heat and depth.
Salt- Salt the pasta water well to enhance the pasta’s flavor.
Garlic Powder- One teaspoon of garlic powder adds a subtle, savory note.
Ground Mustard- Half a teaspoon of ground mustard gives a slight tanginess that complements the cheeses.
How to baked lobster mac and cheese
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 baking pan with butter. Cook the pasta until just under al dente, then drain.
In a skillet, melt butter and make a roux with flour. Gradually whisk in milk and heavy cream until smooth.
Add the cheeses (except the reserved amounts) and whisk until thick. Stir in spices. Mix the cheese sauce with pasta and lobster, then transfer to the baking dish.
Top with reserved cheeses. Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.
The full recipe is below on the recipe card.
Commonly Asked Questions
Cook the lobsters in boiling water for about 8-10 minutes until the shells turn bright red. Remove the meat and chop it into bite-sized pieces.
A combination of sharp cheddar, smoked gouda, and Colby Jack works best. These cheeses melt beautifully and provide a rich, flavorful sauce.
Baked Lobster Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- 1 lb Cooked lobster meat
- 6 tablespoons butter, unsalted
- 8 oz Colby Jack , shredded, save 1/4 cup on side
- 8 oz smoked gouda , shredded, save 1/4 cup on side
- 16 oz sharp cheddar, shredded, save 1 1/4 cup on side
- ½ cup flour
- 1 cup heavy cream, room temperature
- 2 cups milk , room temperature
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp pepper
- pinch of salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp ground mustard
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. Grease a 9×13 baking pan with butter.
- Bring water to boil in a large pot and salt the water. Add in pasta and a little olive oil so it doesn’t stick. Cook until a little under al dente about 7 minutes. Drain the pasta.
- Now we are going to make a roux for the cheese sauce. In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium high heat. Reduce heat to low. Add in 1/4 cup of flour and whisk until smooth. Add in the remaining 1/4th cup of flour whisk. Gradually add in half of the milk and half of heavy cream while whisking until smooth, about 3 minutes.
- Still on low heat, add in all the cheeses, except what we saved on the side of the roux, add in the remaining milk and heavy cream and whisk together until a thick smooth consistency.
- Turn off the heat. Add in all of the spices and whisk together well.
- Pour the cheese mixture over the cooked macaroni and mix together. Add in 1 cup of the sharp cheddar cheese and cooked lobster and mix once, don’t worry about the cheddar not being melted.
- Add the macaroni to the prepared baking dish. Add the remaining cheese on top.
- Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until a nice golden brown crust forms on top.
- Let sit for 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy.
Video
@theres.food.at.home Lobster Baked Mac & Cheese. 🧀 Reply to @brattyty1234 #tiktokfoodie #cookingtips #cook #familydinner #macandcheese #homechef ♬ original sound – There’s food at home
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe was so good that my kids even liked it!
So happy I found you via Google. I have been looking for fun things to make for the family since school started again and boy was this a hit.
Cheesy, delicious and filling, this Mac set the tone for our last weekend.
Thank you!!
I really am trying to unbig my back but this Mac and cheese is soooo good I have to make it at least once a month lol this is going to be a hit for thanksgiving. The lobster gives it that extra razzle dazzle
I’ve been making this for 4 years now. It’s a hit every single time!!! So yummy
Thank you! I’m so happy that you’ve been able to revisit this recipe for years.
make every year without the lobster for thanksgiving so good 😇 and reheats well, just need to do it low temp while stirring in between.
Thank you Emma! I’m so glad you are able to revisit this recipe each year =)