This crab mac and cheese is creamy, cheesy, savory and loaded with jumbo lump crab meat. Topped with buttery old bay ritz crackers, it’s super indulgent and special to share with friends and family!.
Soft pasta, lump crab meat, and a buttery, bubbly Old Bay Ritz cracker sprinkle on top of a cheese sauce that melts in your mouth.
Not sure if it’s ever possible to get enough buttery old bay crab mac and cheese.
One of the oldest recipes I have here on the blog is for my lobster mac and cheese. It might actually be the FIRST recipe I ever posted. I know it’s one dish that I’ve been making the longest – for well over 15 years now. So many of you make it throughout the year. It’s one of the most made dishes here on the site and one that’s requested constantly.
Of course, it’s definitely a special and indulgent dish. It’s one I make during the holiday season or for a special family dinner. It also makes a fairly big batch, so it’s perfect for dinner parties.
Just like my lobster mac, but with big chunks of crab and a buttery old bay ritz cracker topping.
Crab is a delicious seafood that can be prepared in endless ways From crab cakes to crab dip, there are so many great crab recipes out there But what cheese goes best with crab? The right cheese pairing can take your crab dish from great to incredible!
In this ultimate guide, I’ll walk you through the best cheese pairings for crab so you can make insanely delicious crab recipes. With 14 cheese recommendations, flavor profiles, pairing tips, and popular recipe ideas, you’ll be a crab and cheese pairing expert by the end of this article. Let’s get started!
Why Cheese and Crab Are an Amazing Pairing
Crab has a sweet delicate flavor that can be overpowered by the wrong cheese pairing. But when you find the perfect cheese match, the combination is out-of-this-world amazing. Here’s why crab and cheese are such a great match
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Balance of flavors: The salty savoriness of cheese balances out the natural sweetness of crab meat. This contrast makes for very interesting and complex flavors.
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Texture: Soft creamy cheeses pair wonderfully with the flaky texture of crab. The mix of creamy and crunchy textures in one bite is so satisfying.
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Richness: Cheese adds a delicious richness that perfectly complements the leaner crab meat. The indulgence factor goes way up when you add cheese to crab.
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Versatility: Crab and cheese pairings work in so many dishes. From appetizers to main courses, the possibilities are endless!
Now let’s get into the list of the 14 best cheeses to pair with crab meat.
14 Best Cheeses to Pair With Crab
1. Blue Cheese
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Flavor profile: Strong, salty, funky, tangy, peppery
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Pairing notes: Strong blue cheeses like gorgonzola and Roquefort can stand up to crab’s sweetness. The pungent flavor and crumbly texture of blue cheese is fantastic contrasted with sweet crab.
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Recipe ideas: Blue cheese crab dip, crab stuffed mushrooms with blue cheese
2. Aged Cheddar
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Flavor profile: Sharp, tangy, nutty
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Pairing notes: Aged cheddars have a sharpness that pairs well with the brininess of crab. The nuttiness also complements crab’s sweetness.
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Recipe ideas: Crab and cheddar quesadillas, baked crab and cheddar mac & cheese
3. Gruyère
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Flavor profile: Nutty, sweet, rich
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Pairing notes: Gruyère has fruity, caramel notes that match beautifully with crab meat. This Swiss cheese pairs well with crab in creamy dishes.
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Recipe ideas: Crab and gruyère dip, crab gruyère tartlets
4. Parmesan
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Flavor profile: Salty, nutty, umami
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Pairing notes: Parmesan’s savory saltiness and depth of flavor is excellent for bringing out crab’s briny taste. As a hard grating cheese, it also adds a nice texture contrast.
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Recipe ideas: Crab cakes with parmesan, crab salad with parmesan crisps
5. Monterey Jack
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Flavor profile: Mild, buttery, slightly tangy
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Pairing notes: Monterey Jack has enough flavor to complement crab without overpowering it. Its creaminess pairs nicely with crab’s texture.
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Recipe ideas: Grilled crab and jack sandwiches, crab enchiladas with jack
6. Havarti
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Flavor profile: Mild, buttery, tangy
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Pairing notes: Havarti has a simple flavor that lets crab shine as the star. It melts beautifully and adds creaminess.
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Recipe ideas: Crab and havarti stuffed mushrooms, crab havarti melt sandwich
7. Gouda
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Flavor profile: Sweet, nutty, creamy, slightly salty
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Pairing notes: Gouda’s subtle sweetness with hints of butterscotch complements crab’s natural sweetness. Its semi-soft texture also melts nicely.
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Recipe ideas: Baked crab and gouda dip, crab salad with gouda
8. Brie
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Flavor profile: Soft, rich, earthy
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Pairing notes: Brie’s signature gooey richness paired with crab is divine. The buttery brie softens the brininess of the crab.
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Recipe ideas: Baked brie and crab dip, crab brie melts
9. Camembert
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Flavor profile: Creamy, rich, sweet, earthy
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Pairing notes: With a softer rind than brie, camembert is even creamier. It melts beautifully over crab for rich indulgence.
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Recipe ideas: Baked crab and camembert dip, crab stuffed camembert
10. Taleggio
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Flavor profile: Meaty, tangy, fruity,nutty
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Pairing notes: Tallegio has a bold punch of flavor that can stand up to crab. Its meaty savoriness is a nice contrast to sweet crab.
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Recipe ideas: Crab stuffed mushrooms with taleggio, tallegio crab fondue
11. Fontina
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Flavor profile: Nutty, mild, creamy
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Pairing notes: Fontina is a great melting cheese that forms a luxuriously creamy sauce for crab. It has enough flavor for balance without overpowering.
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Recipe ideas: Crab fontina mac & cheese, crab stuffed portobello with fontina
12. Pecorino Romano
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Flavor profile: Salty, sharp, robust
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Pairing notes: Pecorino Romano’s salty, tangy bite cuts through crab’s richness. As a grating cheese, it adds texture contrast.
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Recipe ideas: Spaghetti with crab and pecorino Romano, crab salad with pecorino Romano
13. Feta
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Flavor profile: Salty, tangy, crumbly
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Pairing notes: Feta adds a brininess that enhances crab’s natural seafood essence. The crumbles pair nicely with crab’s texture.
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Recipe ideas: Greek salad with crab and feta, crab cakes with feta
14. Goat Cheese
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Flavor profile: Tangy, earthy, creamy
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Pairing notes: Goat cheese’s distinctive tang pairs brilliantly with sweet crab. It also adds luxurious creaminess to balance the texture.
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Recipe ideas: Goat cheese crab crostini, arugula goat cheese crab salad
Tips for Pairing Cheese and Crab
Now that you know the best cheeses to pair with crab, here are some top tips to create the perfect pairings:
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Match the cheese intensity to the crab preparation. Delicate crab salads go best with mild cheeses. Robust cooked crab can handle stronger cheeses.
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Creamy soft cheeses complement the texture of crab wonderfully. Brie, camembert, or gouda add indulgent richness.
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Grating cheeses like parmesan, pecorino Romano, or aged cheddar add salty sharpness and texture contrast.
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Don’t be afraid to add cheese to hot crab dishes. Many cheeses melt beautifully over crab when baked or broiled.
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Consider cheese with fruit flavors like gruyère, gouda and havarti to match crab’s sweetness.
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Tangy cheeses help cut through crab’s richness. Try feta, goat cheese or monterey jack.
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For ultimate indulgence, combine multiple cheeses into crab dishes, like gruyère and parmesan.
5 Popular Recipes Using Crab and Cheese
Now let’s look at some of the most popular and delicious ways to use crab and cheese together:
1. Baked Crab and Cheese Dip
This hot dip combines lump crab meat with a mix of melted cheeses like cheddar, monterey jack, and/or gruyère. Served with crackers or vegetables, it makes a stellar appetizer.
2. Crab Mac and Cheese
Everybody loves mac and cheese, so why not take it up a notch with crab? Folding in crab meat elevates this comfort food to luxury status. Sharp cheddars or Gruyère pair nicely.
3. Crab Quesadillas
Buttery monterey jack cheese melted between tortillas with sweet crab meat makes such a tasty filling. It’s quick, easy, and customizable.
4. Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
Mushroom caps baked with a luscious stuffing of crab and cheeses like parmesan, fontina or havarti are party perfect.
5. Crab and Cheese Souffle
Light and airy crab soufflés are an impressive dish. Fold in brie, gruyère, or cheddar to
Crab Mac and Cheese
OH MY WORD.
Yes yes yes. I add a good can of jumbo lump crab meat to the mac and cheese. You could definitely chop up some fake crab and use that instead if you want to save money. Heck, you can even use some fresh steamed crab if you have access to that!.
For the cheese sauce, I love to use a mix of cheddar, gruyere and a sprinkle of parmesan. The combination is super good, melty, nutty, savory and rich. It melts together so nicely and creates a silky smooth cheese sauce that is seriously crave worthy.
And the topping! I mix crushed ritz crackers with old bay seasoning and melted butter. I mean, just give me a spoon, right?.
Salty and decadent and super crunchy.
This whole dish baked together is quintessential comfort food. And at the same time, tastes just like the beach!.
In a good way, you know. Minus the sand granules you may get in your teeth.
This is a wonderful side dish, a perfect summer meal. It’s a great main dish when you want to treat yourself. Serve it with a house salad and roasted broccoli. ENJOY!.
Chinese Buffet Imperial Crab | The Hungry Jawn
What goes well with crab?
Pickled capers, vinegar, and lemon add a refreshing, salty tang that pairs well with crab. Step up your grilling game and try cooking this beloved spring veggie over the flames. Topped with bacon and a sherry vinaigrette, your guests will ask for a second helping of this bright side dish.
What is the healthy substitute of cottage cheese?
Cottage cheese itself is a healthy option to include in daily diet as it is made of milk and rich in protein and calcium. If one has to substitute cottage cheese for various reasons then tofu is one such option which can be used and has good protein content too. Or mozzarella cheese or other types of low fat cheese options can be used to certain extent as a substitute.
Do cheese rolls go with crab legs?
Cheese Rolls Cheese rolls are exactly what they sound like, and they go with absolutely anything. They are easy to make, and you will have some downtime as the bread rises that you can spend preparing your crab legs. These easy cheese bread rolls take the usual dinner rolls to a new level of deliciousness!
What is crab macaroni & cheese?
This creamy Crab Macaroni and Cheese recipe is a very special dish meant for a special occasion. It doubles as both a side dish or an entrée. It’s a delicious and budget friendly way to serve crab meat to a crowd with style. This recipe was first developed for Borden cheese.