Creamy Seafood Stuffed Shells for Ultimate Comfort Dining Recipe
Creamy Seafood Stuffed Shells combine tender jumbo pasta shells filled with a luscious mixture of lobster, crab, and shrimp blended with cream cheese and mozzarella. Smothered in a rich, homemade cream sauce and baked to bubbly perfection, this dish offers ultimate comfort dining with luxurious seafood flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood Filling
- 12 pieces Jumbo Pasta Shells
- 8 ounces Lobster Meat
- 8 ounces Crab Meat (opt for fresh)
- 8 ounces Shrimp
- 4 ounces Cream Cheese (can swap for light cream cheese)
- 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese (freshly shredded)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
Cream Sauce
- 4 tablespoons Butter
- 2 tablespoons Flour (can use gluten-free)
- 1 cup Heavy Cream (substitute with half-and-half)
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese
- 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
Instructions
- Preparation: Gather all ingredients and set up your cookware and baking dish for easy access during cooking.
- Sauté Seafood: In a skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add the lobster and crab meat and cook for 2-3 minutes until just heated through, then remove from heat and set aside.
- Mix Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked seafood, cream cheese, shredded mozzarella, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and well-blended.
- Cook Pasta Shells: Boil the jumbo pasta shells according to the package instructions until they are al dente. Drain and let them cool slightly to handle easier for stuffing.
- Make Cream Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Sprinkle in the flour, whisking continuously for about 1 minute to create a roux. Slowly add the heavy cream while whisking to prevent lumps. Stir in the parmesan cheese and cook until the sauce is creamy and smooth.
- Prepare for Baking: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread a thin layer of the cream sauce on the bottom of your baking dish.
- Stuff Shells: Carefully spoon the seafood mixture into each pasta shell and place them neatly in the baking dish on top of the sauce. Pour the remaining cream sauce evenly over the stuffed shells.
- Bake: Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes until the sauce is bubbly and golden on top.
- Serve: Let the stuffed shells cool slightly before serving. Garnish with extra parmesan cheese or fresh herbs for an elevated presentation. Serve warm for the best creamy seafood experience.
Notes
- You can substitute light cream cheese and half-and-half to reduce fat content.
- Using fresh seafood will enhance the flavor but frozen works as well if thawed properly.
- Gluten-free flour can be used in the sauce to make it gluten-free friendly.
- For easier handling, cool the pasta shells briefly after boiling before stuffing.
- Extra parmesan or fresh herbs like parsley or basil make excellent garnishes.
Keywords: seafood stuffed shells, creamy seafood pasta, baked stuffed shells, lobster crab shrimp pasta, comfort food seafood recipe
