Creamy Seafood Stuffed Shells for Ultimate Comfort Dining Recipe
Creamy Seafood Stuffed Shells is a comforting and indulgent baked pasta dish featuring jumbo shells filled with a luxurious blend of lobster, crab, and shrimp combined with cream cheese and mozzarella. Topped with a rich parmesan cream sauce and baked to golden perfection, this recipe offers the ultimate comfort dining experience perfect for special occasions or cozy dinners.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 pieces Jumbo Pasta Shells
Seafood Filling:
- 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
- 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons Butter
- 2 tablespoons Flour (can use gluten-free)
- 1 cup Heavy Cream (substitute with half-and-half)
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
- Preparation: Gather all ingredients and prepare jumbo pasta shells by boiling according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool slightly before stuffing.
- Sauté Seafood: In a skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add lobster and crab meat, cooking for 2-3 minutes until just heated through. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Mix Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked lobster and crab, shrimp, cream cheese, shredded mozzarella, salt, and pepper. Stir well to create a smooth, well-blended seafood filling.
- Prepare Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk continuously for about 1 minute to create a roux. Gradually add the heavy cream while whisking continuously, then stir in parmesan cheese until the sauce is creamy and smooth.
- Stuff Shells: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread a layer of the prepared cream sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Carefully spoon the seafood filling into each cooled pasta shell and arrange them in the baking dish. Pour any remaining cream sauce evenly over the shells.
- Bake: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes or until the sauce is bubbly and the top is golden brown.
- Serve: Allow the dish to cool slightly before serving. Garnish with extra parmesan cheese or fresh herbs if desired and enjoy warm for the ultimate comfort meal.
Notes
- You can substitute light cream cheese and half-and-half to reduce fat content.
- Use gluten-free flour if you require a gluten-free version.
- Fresh seafood provides the best flavor, but cooked seafood can be used for convenience.
- For added flavor, garnish with fresh parsley or basil.
- Ensure pasta shells are not overcooked to prevent them from breaking during stuffing.
Keywords: seafood stuffed shells, creamy seafood pasta, lobster stuffed shells, baked pasta, comfort food, crab and shrimp pasta, seafood bake
