THE ULTIMATE CRAB & SHRIMP SEAFOOD BAKE
Creamy · Buttery · Luxurious · Crowd-Pleasing · Restaurant-Style
The combination of shrimp and crab is pure culinary magic. Crab brings sweetness and delicacy, while shrimp adds firmness, richness, and briny savoriness. When the two come together in a creamy sauce—flavored with garlic, lemon, white wine, butter, herbs, and cheese—you get a seafood dish that feels indulgent, nostalgic, and impressive.
This full-length recipe explores:
✔ Ingredients in detail
✔ Technique behind a perfect seafood bake
✔ Step-by-step cooking
✔ Texture + flavor science
✔ Variations
✔ Troubleshooting
✔ Serving suggestions
✔ Storage
✔ Make-ahead
✔ Nutritional insights
Let’s build a luxurious, unforgettable seafood dish.
⭐ INGREDIENTS (Serves 6)
Seafood
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1 pound medium raw shrimp, peeled & deveined
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1 pound lump crabmeat (fresh, canned, or imitation if desired)
-
optional: ½ pound scallops (small)
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optional: ½ pound flaked white fish (cod, haddock, swai)
Aromatics & Seasoning
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4 tablespoons butter
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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4 garlic cloves, finely minced
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1 small yellow onion, finely diced
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½ teaspoon smoked paprika
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½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
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¼ teaspoon cayenne (optional)
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½ teaspoon black pepper
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1 teaspoon salt (adjust if using salty crab)
Cream Sauce (Seafood Mornay Style)
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3 tablespoons flour
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1 ¾ cups heavy cream
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½ cup whole milk
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½ cup seafood broth or chicken broth
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⅓ cup dry white wine (optional but recommended)
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1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
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½ lemon, juiced
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zest of 1 lemon
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¼ cup grated parmesan
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¾ cup shredded mozzarella or Gruyère
Cheesy Topping
-
½ cup mozzarella
-
¼ cup parmesan
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½ cup panko bread crumbs
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2 tablespoons melted butter
-
chopped parsley for garnish
⭐ WHY CRAB & SHRIMP WORK SO WELL IN CREAM SAUCES
✔ Crab contributes:
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delicate sweetness
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subtle ocean flavor
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a soft, silky bite
✔ Shrimp contributes:
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firm texture
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brininess
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stronger seafood aroma
Together, they give depth, contrast, and luxury.
✔ Cream balances the ocean notes
Dairy softens briny flavors while adding body.
✔ Lemon brightens richness
Seafood needs acidity—lemon prevents heaviness.
✔ Parmesan adds umami
A small amount enhances the sauce without overpowering the seafood.
⭐ PREPARATION
1. Prep the Shrimp
-
Rinse quickly under cold water
-
Remove shells and veins
-
Pat completely dry
-
Sprinkle with a pinch of salt, pepper, and paprika
Drying ensures the shrimp brown instead of steaming.
2. Prep the Crab
If using lump crab:
-
Inspect for shells
-
Gently break into large chunks
-
Do NOT over-handle—it should remain chunky
If using imitation:
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Flake into bite-sized pieces
If using canned:
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Drain well
-
Pat lightly
⭐ STEP-BY-STEP COOKING
STEP 1 — Sauté the Aromatics
Heat butter + olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Add:
-
onion
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pinch of salt
Cook until translucent, 5–7 minutes.
Add:
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garlic
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paprika
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Old Bay
Cook 1 minute until fragrant.
This step builds the aromatic base of the entire dish.
STEP 2 — Cook the Shrimp Lightly
Add shrimp to the pan.
Cook:
-
about 1 minute per side
-
until just barely pink
Remove shrimp immediately to keep them from overcooking.
They will finish in the oven.
STEP 3 — Make the Cream Sauce
With aromatics still in the pan:
Add flour
Stir for 1 minute to cook out the raw taste.
Add wine (optional)
Let it bubble 30–45 seconds.
Add broth
Whisk gradually.
Add milk & cream
Pour slowly while whisking constantly.
Season with:
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salt
-
pepper
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Dijon mustard
-
lemon zest
Simmer on low heat until thickened.
Add cheeses
Stir until melted:
-
¼ cup parmesan
-
¾ cup mozzarella
Sauce should be:
-
smooth
-
glossy
-
thick enough to coat a spoon
Add lemon juice
This brightens the dish and cuts richness.
STEP 4 — Combine Seafood with Sauce
Add:
-
partially cooked shrimp
-
crabmeat
Gently fold together.
Do NOT break the crab lumps.
Taste and adjust seasoning.
STEP 5 — Transfer to Baking Dish
Pour mixture into a greased 9×13 baking dish or round casserole.
STEP 6 — Make Topping
Combine:
-
mozzarella
-
parmesan
-
panko
-
melted butter
Should resemble buttery crumbs.
Sprinkle evenly over seafood mixture.
STEP 7 — Bake
Bake uncovered at 375°F (190°C) for 18–22 minutes.
Look for:
-
bubbling edges
-
golden topping
-
melted cheese
Do NOT overbake—shrimp toughens easily.
If browning too fast:
→ tent with foil for last few minutes.
STEP 8 — Rest and Garnish
Let rest 10 minutes to thicken and settle.
Garnish with:
-
chopped parsley
-
lemon zest
-
paprika dusting
Serve hot.
⭐ TEXTURE & FLAVOR EXPERIENCE
Texture
-
Shrimp: slightly firm, springy
-
Crab: soft, sweet, delicate
-
Sauce: silky, rich, smooth
-
Topping: crispy, cheesy crunch
Flavor
-
Buttery richness
-
Sweetness from crab
-
Seafood depth from shrimp
-
Gentle spice from Old Bay
-
Bright lemon
-
Creamy cheese sauce
-
Garlic-onion base
It’s luxurious and deeply satisfying.
⭐ VARIATIONS
1. Cajun Seafood Bake
Add:
-
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
-
½ cup andouille sausage (optional)
-
substitute cheddar for mozzarella
Spicy, smoky, bold.
2. Italian-Style Seafood Alfredo Bake
Add:
-
basil
-
oregano
-
sun-dried tomatoes
-
swap mozzarella for provolone
3. Garlic Butter Seafood Bake
Skip flour & cheese sauce. Instead use:
-
1 stick melted butter
-
6 garlic cloves
-
lemon
-
parmesan
-
parsley
Light, rich, and intensely garlicky.
4. Tomato Cream Seafood Bake
Add:
-
½ cup tomato paste
-
1 cup crushed tomatoes
-
red pepper flakes
Creates a seafood rosé sauce.
5. Cheddar Bay Biscuit Topping
Top with:
-
Red Lobster biscuit dough
-
cheddar & garlic butter
Comfort-food heaven.
⭐ TROUBLESHOOTING
❗ Shrimp are rubbery
Cause: overbaking.
Fix: Pre-cook shrimp lightly, bake just until bubbly.
❗ Sauce too thin
Fix:
-
simmer longer
-
add 1–2 tsp cornstarch slurry
-
add more cheese
❗ Sauce too thick
Add a splash of:
-
broth
-
milk
-
cream
❗ Topping not crisp
Broil for 2 minutes.
❗ Too salty
Use low-sodium broth and unsalted butter next time.
Add splash of cream to mellow flavor.
⭐ SERVING SUGGESTIONS
Pairs beautifully with:
-
garlic bread
-
buttered noodles
-
rice pilaf
-
roasted vegetables
-
mashed potatoes
-
sautéed spinach
-
Caesar salad
-
toasted baguette slices
⭐ MAKE-AHEAD INSTRUCTIONS
Assemble Ahead
-
prepare seafood mixture
-
refrigerate up to 24 hours
-
top with crumbs right before baking
Add +10 minutes baking time if cold.
⭐ STORAGE
Fridge
Keeps 2–3 days.
Reheat gently at 300°F.
Freezer
Not ideal because cream + seafood can separate,
but can be frozen up to 1 month.
⭐ NUTRITION ESTIMATE (per serving)
Approx:
-
420–550 calories
-
25–38g fat
-
20–25g carbs
-
28–34g protein
Varies by cheese and cream amount.
⭐ WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS
-
builds flavor from aromatics
-
gently prebakes shrimp
-
balances richness with lemon
-
uses the right cheeses for meltability
-
finishes in oven to meld flavors
-
keeps crab intact for luxurious texture
This is a restaurant-quality seafood entrée, customizable to taste and perfect for family dinners, holidays, or special occasions.
⭐ CONCLUSION
This Crab and Shrimp Seafood Bake is the ultimate comfort masterpiece: creamy, flavorful, and irresistibly luxurious. With layers of garlic-infused cream sauce, delicate seafood, melted cheese, and a golden breadcrumb crust, it's the kind of dish that makes an ordinary meal feel like a celebration.
Whether served at holidays, Sunday dinner, or a romantic evening, this recipe delivers unforgettable richness and depth. You now have the complete guide—from ingredients to technique to variations—to perfecting this timeless seafood dish.
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