Garlic Butter Lobster Mac & Cheese 🧄🦞🧈 Rich, Creamy, and Loaded With Garlic Butter-Laced Lobster and Golden Cheese Sauce

This is mac and cheese turned up to 11 — sweet lobster meat sautéed in garlic butter, folded into creamy, cheesy béchamel, and baked with a crunchy golden topping. It’s bold, luxe, and completely worth the effort when you want to impress or indulge.

Perfect for a dinner party main, holiday splurge, or high-end comfort food craving.

Ingredients (Serves 4–6)

For the pasta & lobster

• 8 oz elbow macaroni or small shells
• 1–1½ cups cooked lobster meat, chopped
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper

For the cheese sauce

• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole milk (warmed)
• 1 cup sharp cheddar, shredded
• ¾ cup Gruyère or Fontina, shredded
• ¼ cup Parmesan, grated
• ½ tsp Dijon mustard
• Optional: pinch of cayenne or smoked paprika

For the topping

• ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• 2 tbsp grated Parmesan
• Optional: chopped parsley, lemon zest, or extra cheese

Instructions

Step 1: Boil the pasta
Cook pasta in salted water until just shy of al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 2: Garlic butter lobster
Melt 2 tbsp butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds. Stir in lobster meat and warm through, seasoning with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.

Step 3: Make the cheese sauce
In a saucepan, melt 3 tbsp butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook 1–2 minutes until golden. Gradually whisk in warm milk and simmer until thickened (about 4–5 minutes). Stir in Dijon, cheddar, Gruyère, Parmesan, and cayenne. Mix until smooth and creamy.

Step 4: Combine
Stir drained pasta and garlic butter lobster into the cheese sauce. Mix well. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Step 5: Assemble and top
Pour mixture into a greased baking dish. In a small bowl, mix panko, melted butter, Parmesan, and any optional toppings. Sprinkle evenly over mac.

Step 6: Bake
Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–25 minutes until bubbly and golden on top. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Flavor Variations

• Add a splash of white wine to the garlic butter
• Use Old Bay seasoning or Cajun spice in the sauce for a Southern twist
• Swap lobster for crab, shrimp, or scallops if needed
• Drizzle with truffle oil or hot honey for a gourmet finish
• Add caramelized leeks, spinach, or roasted mushrooms to bulk it up

Pro Tips

• Don’t overcook the lobster — just warm it gently in the garlic butter
• Gruyère adds deep meltiness — sub Fontina or Havarti if needed
• Use fresh-grated cheese for best melting and texture
• Slightly undercook the pasta — it finishes in the oven
• For stovetop-only version, skip the topping and serve straight from the pot

Final Thoughts

Garlic Butter Lobster Mac & Cheese is over-the-top in the best way — creamy, rich, deeply savory, and packed with buttery lobster in every bite. It’s the mac you break out when you want to make a statement.

Boil it. Butter it. Bake it golden. 🧄🦞🧈🔥

🦐 More Coastal Seafood Recipes

From cozy casseroles to zesty grilled fish and elegant seafood pastas, this collection of Seafood Recipes covers every ocean-inspired craving — whether you’re planning a dinner party or a quick weeknight win.

• 🐟 Classic Seafood Dish Recipes – Think pan-seared salmon with lemon dill and timeless coastal favorites.
• 🦞 Delicious Seafood Boil Recipes – Spicy, saucy boils packed with crab, shrimp, and corn. The ultimate feast.
• 🍝 Seafood Pasta Recipes – Elegant and indulgent, like shrimp linguine in a white wine sauce.
• 🍤 Shrimp Recipes – Versatile, fast, and flavor-packed; smoky grills to sizzling stir-fries
• 🐟 Salmon Recipes – Baking & grilling to bowls, pastas, and more — healthy, flavorful, and easy to make/
• 🦞 Seafood Casseroles – Bubbly, Buttery & Oven-Ready. Comfort food meets coastal flavor.
• 🥣 Flavorful Seafood Soups – Rich chowders, bisques, and broth-based favorites.
• 🍽️ Easy Seafood Dinner Recipes – Quick, delicious, easy recipes bring bold flavor with minimal prep and cleanup
• 🥗 Healthy Seafood Recipes – Light, fresh & packed with protein and omega-3s with bright, satisfying flavor
• 🍚 Risotto Recipes with Seafood – Creamy, silky rice dishes meet the richness of the sea.
• 🌊 Seafood Stews – Mediterranean, Latin to classic American, hearty stews with satisfying depth in your bowl.
• 🍝🧀 Seafood Lasagna – Lasagna meets the sea in these rich and satisfying delicious twist classic bakes.

🧄 Garlic Butter Recipes Collection

Explore them all → Rich, golden, and versatile — garlic butter is the flavor bomb your weeknight meals (and fancy dinners) need.

🔥 Garlic Butter Proteins (Main Dishes)

• Garlic Butter Shrimp – Fast, juicy shrimp with bold garlic butter flavor.
• Garlic Butter Chicken – Crispy thighs smothered in a buttery garlic glaze.
• Garlic Butter Chicken Bites – Bite-sized skillet gold.
• Garlic Butter Steak Bites – Quick-seared steak cubes in sizzling garlic butter.
• Garlic Butter Tilapia – Mild fish with a rich, buttery finish.
• Garlic Butter Salmon – Buttery, flaky salmon perfect for weeknight dinner.

🍝 Garlic Butter Pastas & Noodles

• Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta – Seafood and carbs in harmony.
• Garlic Butter Pasta – Minimalist magic with max flavor.
• Garlic Butter Noodles – A simple classic that pairs with anything.
• Garlic Butter Lobster Mac & Cheese – Rich, decadent, and over-the-top good.
• Garlic Butter Parmesan Fettuccine – Creamy, cheesy, and craveable.
• Garlic Seafood Pasta Bake – Bubbly and golden with garlic and seafood.
• Garlic Butter Seafood Lasagna Rolls – Creamy, rolled seafood pasta baked in butter sauce.

🍚 Garlic Butter Sides, Bases & Sauces

• Garlic Butter Rice – Buttery rice with bold flavor and fluff.
• Garlic Butter Sauce – Base for seafood, pasta, and more.
• Garlic Butter Seafood Boil Sauce – Bold, spicy, and ready for dunking.
• Garlic Butter Mashed Potatoes – Creamy with a garlicky punch.
• Garlic Butter Green Beans / Asparagus – Your favorite veg made crave-worthy.
• Garlic Bread with Homemade Garlic Butter Spread – Essential upgrade for any carb lover.

🌶️ Garlic Butter Fusion Recipes (Flavor Bombs)

• Garlic Butter Cajun Shrimp – Spicy, buttery, and bold.
• Garlic Butter Shrimp Tacos – Crispy shells, buttery shrimp.
• Garlic Butter Chicken Alfredo – Creamy fusion of two comfort classics.
• Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi – Bright lemon and rich butter make magic.
• Garlic Butter Ramen Noodles – Lazy, comforting, deeply satisfying.