Here’s a detailed Crab & Shrimp Casserole recipe—rich, creamy, and perfect for a comforting dinner or special occasion.
🦀🍤 Crab & Shrimp Casserole (Serves 6–8)
🧾 Ingredients
Seafood:
- 250–300 g cooked crab meat (lump or shredded, shells removed)
- 250–300 g peeled and deveined shrimp (medium or small)
Pasta/Base (optional but common):
- 2 cups cooked pasta (elbow macaroni, penne, or egg noodles)
Vegetables & aromatics:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small green bell pepper, diced (optional)
- 1 cup mushrooms, sliced (optional)
Sauce:
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk (or half milk, half cream for richness)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (optional but recommended)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional)
Cheese & topping:
- 1 to 1½ cups shredded cheddar or mozzarella
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (for topping)
- 2 tbsp melted butter (to mix with breadcrumbs)
Extras:
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley (for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the seafood
- If using raw shrimp, boil or sauté briefly until just pink.
- Do not overcook—shrimp will cook further in the oven.
- Lightly season crab meat with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
2. Cook aromatics
- In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add onion and sauté until soft (3–4 minutes).
- Add garlic, bell pepper, and mushrooms.
- Cook until vegetables are tender and fragrant.
3. Make creamy sauce
- Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and stir for 1–2 minutes (this removes raw flour taste).
- Slowly whisk in milk to avoid lumps.
- Add cream, Dijon mustard, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer until sauce thickens (5–7 minutes).
4. Combine ingredients
- Add cooked pasta (if using), shrimp, and crab meat into the sauce.
- Gently fold everything together to avoid breaking seafood.
- Add lemon juice and adjust seasoning.
5. Assemble casserole
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Pour mixture into a greased baking dish.
- Top with shredded cheese.
- Mix breadcrumbs with melted butter and sprinkle on top.
6. Bake
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until:
- Top is golden brown
- Sauce is bubbling at the edges
7. Serve
- Let it rest for 5–10 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon.
🍽️ Tips for Best Flavor
- Use fresh crab if possible—it gives a sweeter, cleaner taste.
- Add a splash of white sauce or seafood stock for extra depth.
- For spice, mix in a little hot sauce or cayenne.
- You can skip pasta for a low-carb version.
🧀 Variations
- Southern-style: Add corn and Old Bay seasoning
- Extra creamy: Increase cheese and cream
- Spicy Cajun: Add Cajun seasoning and jalapeños
If you want, I can also give you:
- A no-oven stovetop version
- A restaurant-style Cajun crab shrimp casserole
- Or a budget-friendly version using canned crab