Description
Seafood Stuffed Shells are a decadent Italian-inspired dish featuring jumbo pasta shells filled with a rich blend of shrimp, crab, and cheese, all smothered in a creamy Alfredo sauce. This luxurious yet easy-to-make meal is perfect for special occasions, date nights, or whenever you’re craving a restaurant-quality seafood pasta dish at home.
Ingredients
For the Stuffed Shells:
- 20 jumbo pasta shells, cooked al dente
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ lb shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped
- ½ lb lump crab meat
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the Sauce & Topping:
- 1½ cups Alfredo sauce
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella (for topping)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan (for topping)
Instructions
-
Prepare the Baking Dish:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil.
-
Cook the Shrimp:
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in chopped shrimp and cook until pink, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
-
Make the Seafood Filling:
- In a large bowl, mix ricotta, cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, parsley, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper until combined.
- Gently fold in the cooked shrimp and lump crab meat.
-
Stuff the Shells:
- Fill each cooked pasta shell with the seafood mixture.
- Arrange stuffed shells in the prepared baking dish.
-
Add Alfredo Sauce & Cheese:
- Pour Alfredo sauce evenly over the stuffed shells.
- Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
-
Bake:
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.
-
Serve:
- Garnish with fresh parsley.
- Serve warm with garlic bread or a fresh salad.
Notes
- Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or hot sauce to the seafood mixture.
- Cheesy Upgrade: Swap mozzarella for fontina or Gruyère for extra depth.
- Tomato-Based: Use marinara sauce instead of Alfredo for a different twist.
- Lobster Addition: Replace shrimp with lobster meat for a more luxurious version.
- Prep Time: 20minutes
- Cook Time: 30minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
