Description
Luxurious coastal flavors dance through this lobster & shrimp pasta bake, blending ocean-fresh seafood with rich, velvety cream sauce. Cheese-topped pasta delivers Mediterranean comfort that draws palates into a Mediterranean culinary embrace you won’t forget.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Seafood Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) large peeled, tail off, deveined shrimp, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup (120 grams) lump crab meat
- 1 pound (454 grams) cavatappi pasta
Dairy and Cheese Ingredients:
- 4 cups (960 milliliters) milk
- 2 ½ cups (280 grams) grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 ½ cups (280 grams) grated Gruyere cheese
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, cut into cubes
- 1 stick (113 grams) butter
Seasoning and Additional Ingredients:
- 3–4 green onions, sliced
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons all-purpose Creole seasonings
- ¼ cup (30 grams) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (60 grams) panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 400°F and lightly coat a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Boil pasta in generously salted water until perfectly tender, then drain and reserve in the original pot.
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high temperature and sauté onions and garlic until fragrant and translucent.
- Add shrimp and crab to the skillet, sprinkling with Creole seasoning, and cook until shrimp turns a vibrant pink color.
- Remove seafood mixture from heat and gently combine with the cooked pasta, ensuring even distribution.
- Using the same skillet, melt additional butter and whisk in flour until a smooth roux forms.
- Gradually introduce milk, stirring continuously to create a velvety sauce, incorporating remaining Creole seasoning.
- Blend in half of the cheese varieties, allowing them to melt completely, then fold in cream cheese and adjust seasonings.
- Pour the luxurious cheese sauce over the seafood pasta, mixing thoroughly to coat every strand.
- Transfer half the mixture to the prepared baking dish, sprinkle with a layer of cheese, and repeat the layering process.
- Generously scatter panko breadcrumbs across the top and drizzle with melted butter for a golden, crispy finish.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until the surface turns a rich golden brown and edges bubble enticingly.
- Allow the dish to rest for 5-10 minutes, letting the flavors meld and settle before serving.
Notes
- Seafood Preparation Tip: Sauté shrimp and crab just until pink to prevent overcooking and maintain tender, succulent texture.
- Cheese Sauce Technique: Gradually add milk while whisking to create a smooth, lump-free base that guarantees a silky, creamy consistency.
- Layering Strategy: Alternate pasta-seafood mixture and cheese layers to ensure even distribution of flavors and moist, rich bites throughout the dish.
- Breadcrumb Crunch: Panko topping adds a delightful golden-brown crispy texture that elevates the creamy pasta bake from good to extraordinary.
- Make-Ahead Potential: Assemble the dish in advance and refrigerate, then bake just before serving for a convenient and impressive meal.
- Seasoning Secret: Creole seasoning provides a bold, zesty kick that transforms this pasta bake into a restaurant-quality seafood experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 150mg