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Seafood stuffed shells with creamy Alfredo sauce and basil on white kitchen counter

Seafood Stuffed Shells Recipe

These seafood stuffed shells are filled with tender shrimp, sweet crab, and creamy ricotta, all baked in a rich homemade Alfredo sauce. Elegant enough for entertaining yet simple enough for weeknight dinners, they deliver restaurant-quality flavor in every bite.
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Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-American
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Resting Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 585kcal
Cost: $25

Equipment

  • 1 Large stockpot For boiling pasta shells
  • 1 Large mixing bowl To combine filling ingredients
  • 1 Medium saucepan For making the Alfredo sauce
  • 1 9x13 inch baking dish Glass or ceramic preferred
  • 1 Whisk To make a smooth sauce
  • 1 Slotted spoon To remove cooked shells easily
  • 1 Piping bag or spoon For neatly filling the shells
  • 1 Aluminum foil To cover during baking

Ingredients

For the Stuffed Shells

  • 20 jumbo pasta shells Cooked al dente
  • 1 pound medium shrimp Peeled, deveined, and chopped
  • 8 ounces lump crab meat Fresh or canned
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese Whole milk recommended
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese Divided
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese Grated
  • 1 large egg Beaten
  • 2 cloves garlic Minced
  • 2 tablespoons parsley Fresh, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil For sautéing
  • salt and black pepper To taste

For the Creamy Sauce

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese Grated
  • 2 cloves garlic Minced
  • 0.25 teaspoon nutmeg
  • salt and white pepper To taste
  • fresh basil For garnish

Instructions

  • Boil jumbo shells until al dente, drain, and cool on a baking sheet.
  • Sauté shrimp in olive oil with garlic for 3–4 minutes, then cool.
  • In a bowl, mix ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, parsley, and seasonings. Add shrimp and crab.
  • Melt butter, whisk in flour, then gradually add milk and cream to make sauce.
  • Stir in Parmesan, garlic, nutmeg, salt, and white pepper until smooth and creamy.
  • Spread sauce on the bottom of a greased baking dish.
  • Fill shells with seafood mixture using a spoon or piping bag.
  • Arrange shells in dish, cover with remaining sauce and mozzarella.
  • Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes.
  • Remove foil and bake 10–15 minutes more until golden and bubbly.
  • Rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with basil.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.

Nutrition

Serving: 290g | Calories: 585kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 190mg | Sodium: 1080mg | Potassium: 430mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 850IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 420mg | Iron: 2.6mg