Go Back
seafood stuffed shells

Seafood Stuffed Shells with Shrimp and Crab

Shani W.
These jumbo shells are stuffed with Cajun-seasoned shrimp and crab, all covered in a homemade white sauce. It's simply divine!
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 12 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Course Dinner
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 7.5 oz. jumbo pasta shells about 24 shells
  • 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 6 oz. spinach chopped
  • 10 oz. jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined
  • 1 tsp. sea salt
  • 1 tsp. black pepper
  • 12 oz. claw crab meat
  • 8 oz. ricotta cheese
  • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
  • 2 tsp. lemon juice
  • 1 tsp. dijon mustard
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • ½ tsp. sea salt
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • 2 tsp. fresh parsley

Instructions
 

  • Boil a large pot of water and salt until it is at a rolling boil.  Add pasta shells and cook for about 2 minutes less than the directions on the package - these will fully cook in the oven. 
  • Once shells are done, drain and set aside. Blanch them with a quick ice bath to completely stop the cooking process.
  • Heat a large skillet on medium heat and add olive oil.
  • Add spinach, chopped shrimp, salt, and black pepper to your skillet and sauté for about 5 minutes until shrimp turn pink. The spinach will release water as it cooks down; drain any excess liquid.
  • In a medium-sized bowl, add shrimp/spinach mix, crab meat, and ricotta cheese. Season with the Italian seasoning, Old Bay, lemon juice, and dijon mustard.
  • Stuff your shells with the seafood mixture. You can use piping bags or get down and dirty with a regular serving spoon and (washed!) hands.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Add the heavy cream and almond milk to a shallow saucepan. Season with the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and fresh parlsey.
  • Heat for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce begins to bubble and thicken.
  • In a 9x13 baking dish, pour the homemade white sauce on the bottom of the pan.
  • Layer stuffed shells on top of the sauce. Pour any remaining white sauce on top of the shells.
  • Bake for 15 minutes, covered in aluminum foil. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 5 minutes until the tops begin to brown and the sauce is bubbling.
  • Sprinkle a bit of parmesan and fresh chopped basil on top of the shells and serve while hot. Enjoy!

Freezer Instructions

  • To freeze, stuff the shells as written above and then layer on a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place in the freezer for about an hour to ensure that they will not stick together. After an hour, remove and add to a large freezer-safe Ziploc bag.
  • To reheat, bake frozen shells and sauce uncovered at 350°F for 20-30 minutes until fully heated through. Enjoy!
Keyword Pasta, Seafood, Stuffed Shells