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Creamy Seafood Stuffed Shells Recipe

Creamy Seafood Stuffed Shells Recipe
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★★★★★

5.2 from 24 reviews

This Creamy Seafood Stuffed Shells recipe combines jumbo pasta shells filled with a decadent mixture of shrimp, lobster, crab meat, and spinach, all enveloped in a rich, creamy Parmesan sauce and baked to bubbly perfection. It’s a luscious seafood pasta dish perfect for special occasions or an indulgent family dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Sauce Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (or any milk)
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine (Pinot Grigio recommended, can substitute with broth)
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan Reggiano cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Seafood Filling

  • 1/2 tablespoon butter
  • 8 oz raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, chopped into 1/2–1 inch chunks
  • 8 oz lobster meat
  • 8 oz lump crab meat
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 2 cups finely chopped fresh spinach (or thawed and drained frozen spinach)
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (for filling)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan Reggiano cheese
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Additional Ingredients

  • 20 jumbo pasta shells (about 12 oz package)
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)
  • Foil for covering the baking dish

Instructions

  1. Prep the pasta shells: Boil the jumbo pasta shells until just shy of al dente, approximately 2 minutes less than package instructions. This ensures shells retain their shape for stuffing without becoming too soft. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and set aside to cool.
  2. Whip up the creamy sauce: In a skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Whisk in the all-purpose flour until thick and bubbly, about 1-2 minutes. Gradually add heavy cream, almond milk, and white wine while whisking continuously to prevent lumps. Once smooth, stir in minced garlic, grated Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Remove from heat.
  3. Cook the seafood: In the same skillet, melt the remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Add the chopped shrimp and lobster meat, cooking for a few minutes on each side until opaque. Avoid overcooking since seafood will continue cooking in the oven. Remove from heat.
  4. Mix the filling: In a large bowl, combine the cooked shrimp and lobster, lump crab meat, cream cheese, finely chopped spinach, half of the mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan. Sprinkle in the Old Bay seasoning and season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly and taste to adjust seasoning if needed.
  5. Assemble the stuffed shells: Spoon approximately 1 ½ to 2 tablespoons of the seafood filling into each cooled pasta shell. Pour the prepared creamy sauce into the bottom of a baking dish and arrange the stuffed shells evenly over the sauce. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top.
  6. Bake: Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese topping is golden and bubbly.

Notes

  • For best results, do not overcook the pasta shells before stuffing; slightly undercooked shells hold up better in the oven.
  • If you prefer, substitute the white wine in the sauce with seafood or chicken broth for a non-alcoholic version.
  • Fresh spinach is preferred, but frozen spinach can be used if thawed and thoroughly drained.
  • Feel free to adjust seasoning, particularly the Old Bay and Italian seasoning, to suit your taste preferences.
  • This recipe can be made a day ahead: assemble stuffed shells, cover, and refrigerate; bake right before serving, adding an extra 5-10 minutes to baking time if baking from chilled.

Nutrition

Keywords: seafood stuffed shells, creamy seafood pasta, baked stuffed shells, lobster pasta recipe, shrimp and crab stuffed shells

Find it online: https://freshrecipehub.com/creamy-seafood-stuffed-shells-recipe/