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Cheesy Crab Pasta Casserole Recipe

Cheesy Crab Pasta Casserole

A creamy baked pasta casserole with tender crab meat, sharp cheddar, cream cheese, Monterey Jack, and a buttery panko topping. This comforting seafood dinner serves 6 and is ready in about 45–50 minutes.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Filling
  • 12 ounces Medium pasta, such as shells, elbows, rotini, or penne
  • 12 ounces Cooked crab meat, picked over for shell fragments and drained well
  • 1 cup Frozen peas
Cheese Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Butter
  • 1/2 cup Finely diced yellow onion
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons All-purpose flour
  • 2 cups Whole milk
  • 4 ounces Cream cheese, softened and cubed
  • 1 1/2 cups Shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup Shredded Monterey Jack or mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon Paprika, optional
Topping
  • 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tablespoon Melted butter
  • 2 tablespoons Grated Parmesan cheese, optional

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
  2. Boil the pasta in salted water until just shy of al dente, usually 1–2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain well.
  3. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook the onion for 3–4 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  4. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the milk, then simmer while whisking frequently for 3–5 minutes, until slightly thickened.
  5. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the cream cheese, 1 cup of the cheddar, and the Monterey Jack until smooth, then season with salt, pepper, and paprika.
  6. Combine the drained pasta, cheese sauce, crab, and peas, if using. Fold gently so the crab stays in recognizable pieces.
  7. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar over the top.
  8. Mix the panko with the melted butter and Parmesan, if using. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the casserole.
  9. Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until hot and bubbling. Broil for 1–2 minutes at the end if a more browned topping is desired.
  10. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. This gives the sauce a moment to settle while keeping the pasta creamy.

Notes

Undercook the pasta slightly because it continues cooking in the oven. Drain canned crab thoroughly and inspect it carefully for shell fragments. Add the crab after the cheese sauce is finished and fold gently to help prevent the meat from breaking apart or becoming tough. Refrigerate leftovers promptly and reheat gently.