If you love the creamy, indulgent seafood dishes at Red Lobster, this lobster mac and cheese is a must-try. Inspired by the rich comfort food served at Red Lobster, this recipe combines tender lobster meat with perfectly cooked pasta and a velvety cheese sauce. The result is a decadent macaroni and cheese that feels like a restaurant-quality treat but is surprisingly easy to make at home. Whether you’re planning a seafood date night dinner, a special weekend meal, or just want a comforting pasta dish with a gourmet twist, this lobster mac and cheese delivers big flavor in every bite.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Please read our disclosure policy and terms.

Recipe Print

Sharing is Caring! Pin!

Pin this recipe for later! ❤

Red Lobster Lobster Mac and Cheese is a super satisfying, easy and elegant comfort dish that you can put together in no time.

Not your average mac and cheese, this Red Lobster inspired lobster mac and cheese is amazingly decadent.

It’s a highly comforting side dish that even rivals our trusty favorite creamy lobster mash.

And that’s saying a lot.

This easy restaurant classic begins with fun cavatappi pasta in a rich, melted cheese sauce.

Then, the cheesy pasta is topped with a luscious creamy lobster sauce with tender chunks of lobster meat.

A generous sprinkle of parmesan, panko bread crumbs and fresh parsley accentuates the dish.

The end result is a fabulous and unforgettable lobster macaroni and cheese. If you’re a fan of bacon, you’ll also love our Red Lobster bacon mac and cheese. Try our baked mac and cheese next.

Be sure to check out all of these Red Lobster Copycat Recipes!

Content in this Post

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients Used in Red Lobster Lobster Mac and Cheese
Ingredients Used in Red Lobster Creamy Lobster Sauce
Equipment Needed for Red Lobster Lobster Mac and Cheese
Why This Recipe Works

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Restaurant-style seafood comfort food at home
• Rich, creamy cheese sauce with tender lobster
• Perfect for special dinners or date night
• Easy to make with simple ingredients
• Great way to turn lobster into a comforting meal

Ingredients Used in Red Lobster Lobster Mac and Cheese

The ingredients shown and listed below serve as a general representation of the recipe. For a complete list of ingredients, measurements and helpful tips, please refer to our recipe card. Jump to Recipe

Aside from the lobster meat and perhaps the cavatappi pasta, many of the ingredients for this recipe are fairly common. You may find that you have many of them on hand.

We have shown two mise en place below.

The first mise outlines the ingredients for the basic mac and cheese recipe, while the second mise pictures the ingredients you’ll need for the creamy lobster sauce.

red lobster lobster macaroni and cheese ingredients mise en place

Cavatappi Pasta — Red Lobster lobster mac and cheese is made with cavatappi pasta. Large elbow macaroni is also typical of mac and cheese recipes, but you can try shells or other pasta shapes for a variation.
Chicken broth — We use chicken broth from a carton for convenience.
Marbled cheddar cheese — Or regular cheddar cheese, shredded. You can shred the cheese meanwhile the pasta is cooking.
Butter — We use salted butter for our mac and cheese. If you use unsalted you can add a little more salt to the recipe, to taste.
Milk — Homogenized (whole) milk makes the mac and cheese extra creamy.
Hot sauce — optional, we use Frank’s Red Hot, just a shake or two provides a flavor boost without overpowering the dish. Stir it into the water in the Instant Pot before cooking to make sure it is well dispersed.
Salt — Himalayan salt, ground. If you are using salted butter there will already be salt in this dish from that as well as the chicken broth, you might want to skip the extra salt or you can taste it and add if you like.
Garnish:
- Panko — Gives the mac and cheese a crunchy top layer.
- Parmesan Cheese — Freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano adds an extra savory touch.
- Parsley — (optional) fresh, finely chopped parsley flakes to sprinkle on top of the dish.

Ingredients Used in Red Lobster Creamy Lobster Sauce

red lobster lobster mac and cheese ingredients mise en place

Lobster — You’ll need some pre-cooked lobster meat for the sauce. We love to use chopped bite size pieces from our oven baked lobster tails recipe.
Milk — Use homogenized or whole milk for a creamy taste.
Butter — Salted or unsalted butter can be used (you can choose to add some extra salt if your butter is unsalted).
Flour — We like all purpose flour to thicken the sauce.
Lemon Juice — Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor.
Old Bay Seasoning — This seasoning is a natural pairing with shellfish and provides the perfect spice palette for this dish.
Salt — We prefer ground Himalayan pink salt, although you can use other types of salt.
Pepper — Use some freshly ground black pepper to accentuate the dish. Remember that a little goes a long way flavor wise and if you don’t like pepper feel free to omit.

Save or Share this Recipe

Name: Red Lobster Lobster Mac and Cheese Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 4 Cups Cavatappi Pasta; 2 Cups Chicken Broth; ¼ Cup Butter (salted); ½ teaspoon Salt (Himalayan); ½ teaspoon Hot Sauce (Frank's red hot, optional); 2 Cups Marble Cheddar Cheese (shredded); ½ Cup Milk (homogenized/whole milk); 1 Tablespoon Panko (bread crumbs); 1 Tablespoon Parmesan Cheese (grated Parmigiano Reggiano); 2 Tablespoon Butter (salted); 1 Tablespoon Flour (all purpose); 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice (freshly squeezed); ½ Teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning (optional); ½ Teaspoon Salt (Himalayan); ¼ Teaspoon Pepper (freshly ground); 1 Cup Milk (whole milk); ½ Cup Lobster Meat (cooked and chopped )

on your favorite platforms

Equipment Needed for Red Lobster Lobster Mac and Cheese

For this Instant Pot macaroni and cheese recipe, we use a 6 quart Instant Pot. You could also make this in a 3 quart. If you plan to double the recipe, then be sure to use a 6 quart or 8 quart Instant Pot.

If you’d prefer, you can use a large pot on the stovetop to cook your pasta. Just follow the stovetop directions on the package.

Instant Pot 6 Quarts

Cheese Grater

Whisk

Why This Recipe Works

Lobster mac and cheese works because it balances rich seafood flavor with creamy comfort food texture.

The lobster adds natural sweetness and a buttery taste that pairs perfectly with a smooth cheese sauce.

Using a combination of cheeses gives the sauce depth and creaminess while still letting the lobster flavor shine.

How to Make Red Lobster Lobster Mac And Cheese

The steps listed below serve as a general guide on how to make the recipe. For a complete list of step-by-step instructions with cook times and temperatures, please refer to our recipe card. Jump to Recipe

STEP 1 — Prepare the Mac and Cheese

Place cavatappi pasta into the Instant Pot. Add chicken broth, butter, hot sauce (if using), and salt. Stir to mix it well.

STOVE TOP METHOD: Alternatively, if you are cooking the cavatappi on the stove top, just boil the water in a large pot and cook the pasta according to the package instructions.

We like to cook it a few minutes past al dente, although you can cook the pasta to your desired tenderness. Drain water and go to step 3 below.

red lobster lobster macaroni and cheese step 3

STEP 2 — Pressure Cook

Fasten lid securely and set to High pressure for 5 minutes. While the Instant Pot is cooking, you can shred the cheese and make the creamy lobster sauce. Once complete, let natural release pressure for 2 minutes.

STEP 3 — Add Cheese and Milk

Add milk and shredded cheddar cheese. Mix well.

red lobster lobster macaroni and cheese step 4

STEP 4 — Prepare the Creamy Lobster Sauce

In a medium sauce pan on the stove top, on medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour and whisk

red lobster lobster mac and cheese step 2

STEP 5 — Add Seasoning

Add seasoning and lemon juice, continue to whisk.

red lobster lobster mac and cheese step 3

STEP 6 — Add Milk and Bring to a Boil

Pour in the milk and whisk again. Allow the mixture to come to a boil. Once it reaches a boil, let simmer for 3 minutes.

red lobster lobster mac and cheese step 5

STEP 7 — Add Lobster and Let Simmer

When the mixture has thickened, add lobster meat and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

red lobster lobster mac and cheese step 6

STEP 8 — Assemble and Serve

When the mac and cheese is complete, with cheese mixed in, transfer it into a serving dish, then ladle the Creamy Lobster Sauce over top of the mac and cheese.
Sprinkle parmesan cheese and panko bread crumbs over the entire dish. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley flakes, if desired.

red lobster lobster mac and cheese recipe

What to Serve With Red Lobster Lobster Mac and Cheese

Lobster Mac and cheese is a substantial dish and could be a meal in itself. It also makes for a wonderful side dish with your favorite homemade seafood recipes.

We like to serve Lobster Macaroni and Cheese with either of steamed broccoli, garlic green beans, chopped veggies, or salad to round out the meal.

Red Lobster Inspired Menu #1:

Red Lobster Salmon New Orleans with Shrimp
Garlic Green Beans
Red Lobster Style Lobster Tails
Red Lobster Mac and Cheese or Red Lobster Lobster Mashed Potatoes (that you can either include or swap out for Lobster Mac and Cheese)

red lobster salmon lobster shrimp ideas — Red Lobster Salmon New Orleans With Shrimp, Garlic Green Beans and Lobster Tail. Shown with Creamy Lobster Mashed Potatoes (Sub Lobster Mac and Cheese)

More Red Lobster Copycat Dishes

Did you know that an amazing Red Lobster inspired seafood menu can be yours at home, at a fraction of the price?

Just pick an appetizer or two, a main dish and side dish and you will be stunned at just how easy these recipes are to prepare.

Delicious restaurant style at home? Yes, Please! Here are some of our favorites that have become regulars at our house. And be sure to check out this post for more recipes and ideas about what to do with lobster.

Red Lobster Inspired Appetizers

From timeless classic starters to new menu items, we’ve got you covered. These appetizers are all easy to prepare and are top notch in flavor!

Red Lobster Inspired Mains

You’ll be surprised at how easy these are to make. Nothing difficult here, and you’ll be on your way to enjoy seafood restaurant quality meals at home more often.

Red Lobster Inspired Side Dishes

In addition to our fabulous creamy lobster mac and cheese, these are some easy sides you’ll also love.

Add a creamy and delicious comfort side dish, or a tasty green vegetable side. Or even better yet, make both!

Storage Tips

Leftover lobster macaroni and cheese can be stored in the refrigerator and is best consumed within a day or two.

It can be reheated in the microwave, but will be drier than when it was first made. I like to stir in a teaspoon or so of milk and butter into each bowl of lobster mac and cheese after reheating to make it creamy again.

To reheat, transfer to an oven safe dish and bake at 400°F for about ten minutes or until the dish is heated through.

Food Safety Note

When storing seafood leftovers, follow safe refrigeration guidelines. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service recommends refrigerating cooked seafood within two hours and consuming leftovers within a few days for best quality and safety.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use frozen lobster for lobster mac and cheese?

Yes. Frozen lobster meat works well as long as it is fully thawed and drained before adding it to the pasta.

What cheese works best for lobster mac and cheese?

A combination of cheddar and parmesan works well, but gruyère or mozzarella can also be added for extra creaminess.

What pasta works best for lobster mac and cheese?

Elbow macaroni is traditional, but shells, cavatappi, or rotini hold the sauce nicely.

Can I make lobster mac and cheese without baking it?

Yes. You can serve the dish straight from the stovetop for a creamy stovetop mac and cheese instead of baking it.

You’ll Also Love

Go ahead and treat yourself to another extremely delicious comfort side dish. These Red Lobster Creamy Lobster Mashed Potatoes are perfect with your favorite homemade seafood dinner. We especially love our lobster mashed potatoes with a Cajun butter sauce that goes perfectly with Red Lobster Salmon New Orleans With Shrimp.