By: Jill Mills Updated: Oct 29, 2025

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Every bite of this Seafood Mac and Cheese is loaded with tender seafood, gooey cheese, and lots of flavor. Enjoy as the entree or as a side dish. Perfect for special occasions!

Seafood Mac and Cheese being lifted out with a spoon

Seafood mac and cheese is the perfect example of seafood being quick and easy to make a home. Like other seafood recipes, including shrimp alfredo and pan seared scallops, it sounds fancy but is actually easy to make. My version is super cheesy and loaded with shrimp and imitation crab, which keeps it affordable while still satisfying that seafood craving. Of course, you can easily switch it up and use lump crab meat or lobster if you prefer!

Why We Love This Seafood Mac and Cheese Recipe

Loaded with seafood. There’s over 16 ounces of seafood in this recipe! I used shrimp and imitation crab but it can be made with virtually any seafood. If it’s for a special occasion, I will sometimes use lobster!
SUPER cheesy. Using a variety of cheeses is the key to an extra good, restaurant-quality mac and cheese, in my opinion, and this recipe does not disappoint. There are three different cheeses, both melted in the sauce and sprinkled on top.
Fancy but easy. Seafood mac and cheese sounds like one of those fancy dishes only enjoyed at a restaurant. But it’s actually so easy and no harder to make than any other homemade mac and cheese. From start to finish, it takes just 40 minutes and half of that is in the oven.

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make seafood mac and cheese

Recipe Ingredients

This yummy mac and cheese is made with a handful of ingredients, a few spices, and, of course, lots of seafood. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

Pasta – I like to use cavatappi pasta but any short noodles, such as elbow macaroni, penne, or shells will work.
Unsalted butter – I highly recommend starting with unsalted butter, since the seasonings add plenty of salt.
All-purpose flour
Evaporated milk – Be sure to use evaporated milk, not sweetened condensed milk.
Half & half – Also helps to keep the sauce extra thick and creamy.
Spices – Onion powder, garlic powder, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Cheese – I use a combination of mozzarella cheese, sharp white cheddar cheese, and gouda cheese. Using a mixture of cheese enhances the flavor profile and the sharp white adds a bit of tangy flavor.
Shrimp – Large cooked shrimp that are peeled and deveined with the tails removed. Frozen shrimp is great. (Thawed first, of course.)
Imitation crab meat – Imitation crab is a great way to keep this dish affordable while loading it with seafood flavor.

How to Make Seafood Mac and Cheese

This mac and cheese may appear fancy, but it’s so simple to make. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Prep. Preheat the oven to 375F. Grease the baking dish.
Cook the pasta. Cook the pasta to al dente according to the packaging instructions. Rinse in cold water, then drain and set aside.
Make the roux. Melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until golden and smooth.
Make the cheese sauce. Slowly whisk in the evaporated milk and half & half. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until it thickens. Mix in the spices. Reduce the heat to low and stir in ½ cup of each cheese. Continue stirring until the cheeses are fully melted and smooth.
Add the pasta and seafood. Fold the cooked pasta into the cheese sauce until coated. Gently fold in the seafood, taking care to not break it up too much.
Transfer. Spread the mixture evenly in the baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining cheeses.
Bake. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the top is bubbly and slightly golden. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Recipe Tips & Variations

Here are a few ways to customize this seafood mac and cheese recipe, as well as a few tips to ensure it turns out perfectly every time.

Whisk constantly. When making the cheese sauce, whisk constantly when pouring in the liquids. This, along with adding them slowly, helps prevent lumps. It’s also important to stir constantly after adding the cheeses to ensure they fully melt into the sauce.
Use other seafood. Substitute the shrimp and imitation crab with other seafood like lump crab meat, scallops, or lobster as desired. Just keep the overall amount of seafood added roughly the same.
Try other cheeses. Feel free to swap out the cheeses for your favorites, but make sure to include at least one sharp cheese for flavor.
Add a crunchy topping. For extra crunch, mix 1/2 cup breadcrumbs with 2 tablespoons melted butter and sprinkle over the cheese topping before baking.

A fork in a plate of seafood mac and cheese

Serving Suggestions

Seafood mac and cheese can easily be served as the entree itself. I love to add a fresh side salad or some green veggies, like oven roasted asparagus, to the side.

It can also be served as a side dish, like they do at steak houses. It’s the perfect complement to a nice, juicy pan seared steak.

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