- Coarse salt and ground pepper
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg, thyme, cayenne, oregano, 1 pound coarsely chopped cooked lobster, shrimp, crawfish, or crabmeat, or a combination
- 4 cups (1 pound) mixed grated cheeses, such as Parmesan, cheddar, Swiss, and fontina
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1. Preheat oven to 400. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook macaroni 2 minutes less than al dente. Drain; rinse with cold water. Set aside
2. While pasta is cooking, melt butter over medium in a large saucepan. Transfer 2 tablespoons melted butter to a medium bowl, and reserve. Add onion and garlic to pan; cook until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add flour; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add milk; whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer, and cook until sauce has thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with 3/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp, pepper and nutmeg
3. Remove pan from heat. Fold in seafood, macaroni, and cheese; transfer to a shallow 4-quart baking dish. To bowl with reserved melted butter, add breadcrumbs and Creole seasoning; toss, and scatter over macaroni mixture. Place baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until topping is golden and sauce is bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.