Creamy Seafood Stuffed Shells (Print Version)

Jumbo shells stuffed with lobster, crab, and cream cheese in a decadent Parmesan cream sauce

# What You'll Need:

→ Seafood Filling

01 - 8 oz lobster meat, chopped
02 - 8 oz lump crab meat, picked over for shells
03 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
05 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
06 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
07 - 1.5 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
08 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
09 - 0.5 cup heavy whipping cream
10 - 0.75 cup Parmesan Reggiano cheese, grated

→ Pasta and Sauce

11 - 18-20 jumbo pasta shells
12 - 0.5 cup heavy whipping cream for sauce
13 - 0.75 cup Parmesan Reggiano cheese, grated for sauce

→ For Baking

14 - Aluminum foil
15 - Fresh herbs or extra Parmesan for garnish, optional

# Steps to Follow:

01 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 0.5 tablespoon butter. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in lobster and crab meat, cook for 2-3 minutes until just heated through. Remove from heat and set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, combine the cooked seafood, softened cream cheese, 0.5 cup mozzarella, salt, and pepper. Mix until fully combined and creamy.
03 - Boil jumbo shells in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool slightly.
04 - In the same skillet, melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Slowly whisk in 0.5 cup heavy cream. Add grated Parmesan and remaining 0.5 cup mozzarella, stirring until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
05 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread a thin layer of cheese sauce on the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Stuff each shell generously with seafood filling and arrange in the baking dish. Pour remaining cheese sauce evenly over the shells.
06 - Cover with aluminum foil and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 minutes more, or until sauce is bubbly and top is golden.
07 - Let cool slightly. Garnish with extra Parmesan or fresh herbs. Serve warm.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen, but the actual hands-on time is surprisingly manageable.
  • One bite proves that seafood and cream are a match made in heaven, and your guests will be asking for the recipe.
  • You can prepare the filling ahead, which takes the stress out of dinner party planning.
02 -
  • Don't overcook the seafood before mixing it into the filling or it becomes tough and loses its delicate sweetness.
  • If your cheese sauce seems to break or gets grainy, whisk in a splash of cold cream away from heat and it'll smooth right back out.
03 -
  • Prep the filling the night before and refrigerate it, then just stuff and bake the next day for a much calmer dinner party.
  • If you're nervous about the shells breaking, boil them a minute or two less than the package says and handle them gently with a slotted spoon.
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