Seafood Stuffed Shells Pasta (Print Version)

Jumbo pasta shells filled with shrimp, crab, and cheese, topped with a rich, creamy sauce.

# Ingredients:

→ Shells and Filling

01 - 20 jumbo pasta shells
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
05 - 0.5 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped
06 - 0.5 pound crab meat (lump or imitation)
07 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
08 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
09 - 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
11 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
12 - Salt, to taste
13 - Pepper, to taste

→ Sauce

14 - 2 tablespoons butter
15 - 2 tablespoons flour
16 - 2 cups half-and-half or heavy cream
17 - 0.5 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning (optional)
18 - 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
19 - Salt, to taste
20 - Pepper, to taste

# Steps:

01 - Boil jumbo pasta shells in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool.
02 - Heat olive oil over medium heat in a skillet. Sauté garlic and onion until softened. Add shrimp and cook until pink, about 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat. In a large bowl, combine cooked shrimp, crab meat, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, parsley, lemon zest, salt, and pepper.
03 - Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in half-and-half and bring to a simmer. Stir until thickened. Add Parmesan cheese, Old Bay seasoning (if using), salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth. Remove from heat.
04 - Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread a layer of sauce on the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Stuff each shell with seafood filling and arrange in the dish. Pour the remaining sauce over the shells. Optionally, sprinkle with extra mozzarella or Parmesan cheese.
05 - Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes, or until bubbly and lightly golden.
06 - Garnish the stuffed shells with extra parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice before serving.

# Notes and Tips:

01 - Use fresh seafood for the best flavor, but frozen or imitation can also work.