Dreamy Seafood-Stuffed Pasta Shells: A Silky Béchamel Recipe

Seafood and pasta come together in a mouthwatering dance of flavors, with these creamy seafood-stuffed pasta shells creating a culinary symphony that delights the senses.

Large pasta shells cradle a luxurious mixture of tender seafood, promising an indulgent meal that speaks to comfort and elegance.

Each shell bursts with delicate shrimp, succulent crab, and a rich blend of cheeses that melt into a velvety embrace.

The accompanying béchamel sauce adds a silky dimension that elevates every single bite with its smooth, classic charm.

Herbs and seasonings weave through the filling, bringing depth and complexity to this impressive dish.

Fragrant and inviting, these stuffed shells transform an ordinary dinner into a restaurant-worthy experience that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Dive into this seafood sensation and treat yourself to a truly memorable meal.

Elegant Ways to Serve This Seafood Pasta Dish

• Seafood Lover's Dinner Party: Wow your guests with this elegant main course, perfect for a sophisticated gathering. Pair with crisp white wine and fresh salad for a complete meal experience.
• Coastal Brunch Centerpiece: Transform this dish into a stunning weekend brunch highlight. Serve alongside mimosas and light citrus fruit salad for a luxurious morning spread.
• Gourmet Meal Prep Option: Prepare shells in advance and refrigerate before baking. Great for busy professionals wanting a quick, restaurant-quality dinner during the week. Reheat and enjoy within 2-3 days for maximum freshness.
• Mediterranean-Inspired Side Plating: Garnish with extra chopped parsley, lemon wedges, and sprinkle of red pepper flakes. Create a beautiful presentation that enhances the seafood's delicate flavors and adds visual appeal.

Save and Reheat Without Losing the Creaminess

• Smart Storage Solutions: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to maintain freshness and prevent flavor absorption from other foods.
• Freezer-Friendly Strategy: Prepare the entire dish or individual stuffed shells, then freeze for up to 1 month. Wrap securely in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags to lock in taste and texture.
• Meal Prep Magic: Cook extra shells and seafood filling during the weekend. Portion into individual containers for quick weeknight dinners or grab-and-go lunches that save time and reduce daily cooking stress.
• Reheating Wisdom: Thaw frozen dishes overnight in the refrigerator. Warm in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, covering with foil to prevent drying. For single servings, microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to ensure even heating.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 500 kcal

Servings: 7

Creamy Seafood-Stuffed Pasta Shells with Savory Béchamel Ingredients

• Jumbo Pasta Shells: Sturdy vessel for capturing the luscious seafood mixture, choose large shells that hold plenty of filling.
• Olive Oil: Prevents pasta from sticking during cooking, helps achieve perfect texture.

• Shrimp: Succulent protein that adds sweet oceanic flavor, select fresh or high-quality frozen with firm texture.
• Scallops: Delicate and buttery seafood that brings elegant richness, look for dry-packed without added chemicals.
• Crab Meat: Provides sweet, delicate maritime essence, choose lump or backfin for best quality.
• Parsley: Fresh herb that brightens seafood mixture, select vibrant green leaves with minimal wilting.

• Mayonnaise: Creamy binder that helps hold seafood filling together, opt for full-fat version for richer taste.
• Dijon Mustard: Adds tangy depth and complexity to seafood mixture, choose smooth, high-quality variety.
• Lemon Juice: Bright citrus element that cuts through richness, use fresh squeezed for maximum zest.
• Old Bay Seasoning: Classic seafood spice blend that elevates maritime flavors, essential for authentic taste.
• Garlic: Aromatic base that infuses filling with robust flavor, select fresh cloves for most potent taste.
• Onion: Provides subtle sweetness and depth to seafood mixture, choose yellow or white for balanced flavor.

• Butter: Creates smooth base for béchamel and adds rich undertone, use unsalted for better control.
• Flour: Thickening agent for creating silky sauce, all-purpose works.

Kitchen Tools to Prep Creamy Seafood Shells

• Large Pot: Perfect for boiling pasta shells to almost al dente.
• Colander: Essential for draining pasta quickly and thoroughly.
• Skillet: Ideal for cooking shrimp, scallops, onions, and garlic.
• Mixing Bowl: Great for combining seafood filling ingredients.
• Whisk: Crucial for creating smooth béchamel sauce without lumps.
• Wooden Spoon: Helps stir and mix ingredients while cooking.
• Baking Dish: Needed to assemble and bake the stuffed shells.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures precise ingredient quantities.
• Chef's Knife: Useful for chopping parsley and preparing ingredients.

Putting Together Stuffed Shells That Shine

• Oven Preparation

Warm up the kitchen’s heart by setting the oven to a cozy temperature that promises delicious transformation.

• Pasta Foundation

Gently dance pasta shells in boiling water until they’re just shy of perfect tenderness, then lovingly drain and set aside.

• Seafood Symphony

Sauté a medley of ocean treasures – shrimp, scallops, and delicate crab – with aromatic onions and garlic, creating a flavor-packed filling that whispers coastal memories.

• Creamy Béchamel Magic

Craft a silky white sauce that hugs each ingredient with luxurious comfort, blending flour and butter into a golden base, then streaming in rich cream and briny clam essence.

• Shell Transformation

Tenderly stuff each pasta shell with the seafood medley, nestling them in a welcoming baking dish, then cascade the velvety béchamel over the top.

• Golden Finale

Send the dish on a culinary journey in the oven, watching it bubble and brown until it emerges as a golden masterpiece that promises pure indulgence.

Béchamel Tips That Make a Huge Difference

• Seafood Shell Secrets: Smart cooking tricks to elevate your pasta game
• Seafood Selection Magic: Choose fresh, high-quality seafood from reliable fishmongers. Mix varieties like shrimp, scallops, and crab for deeper flavor complexity and texture variety.
• Make-Ahead Meal Mastery: Assemble the dish entirely the night before, cover tightly, and refrigerate. Bake directly from the fridge, adding 10-15 minutes to cooking time for perfect heated results.
• Crunch Factor Upgrade: Experiment with different breadcrumb options like panko, herbed breadcrumbs, or crushed crackers for varied crispy toppings. Toast breadcrumbs briefly in butter for extra golden-brown deliciousness.
• Spice Level Adventures: Adjust Old Bay seasoning intensity based on preference. Add red pepper flakes or cayenne for a spicy kick, or incorporate fresh herbs like dill or chives for bright, fresh notes.
• Dairy-Free and Gluten-Free Twist: Substitute half and half with coconut milk, use gluten-free pasta shells, and replace breadcrumbs with almond flour for alternative dietary needs without sacrificing flavor.

Dreamy Seafood-Stuffed Pasta Shells with Balanced Béchamel

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4.5 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Succulent seafood-stuffed pasta shells nestled in creamy béchamel sauce promise an Italian coastal culinary adventure. Rich ingredients and careful preparation deliver Mediterranean flavors that invite diners to savor each elegant bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 8 oz (226 g) lump crab meat
• 8 oz (226 g) shrimp, thawed, peeled, deveined, cut into ½-inch pieces
• 8 oz (226 g) bay scallops, thawed, cut into ½-inch pieces
• 6 oz (170 g) jumbo pasta shells (approximately 22 shells)
• ½ small yellow onion, finely diced
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) unsalted butter
• ⅓ cup (80 ml) mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
• ¼ cup (15 g) finely chopped fresh parsley
• ½ lemon, juiced
• 3 tbsps (45 ml) unsalted butter
• 3 tbsps (23 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (240 ml) clam juice
• 2 cups (480 ml) half and half
• 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
• ½ cup (60 g) panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) unsalted butter, melted
• Kosher salt
• Ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Seafood Preparation: Thaw seafood ingredients at room temperature to enhance flavor absorption and maintain optimal texture.
2. Pasta Technique: Cook pasta shells in salted water until al dente, then drain carefully to prevent overcooking and preserve structural integrity.
3. Aromatic Base: Sauté onions and garlic in a skillet until translucent, creating a fragrant foundation for the seafood filling.
4. Seafood Cooking: Quickly pan-sear shrimp and scallops to develop a golden crust while preserving their delicate, tender interior.
5. Filling Composition: Blend cooked seafood with crab meat, minced parsley, mayonnaise, mustard, and Old Bay seasoning, creating a harmonious and flavorful mixture.
6. Flavor Enhancement: Incorporate fresh lemon juice to brighten the seafood filling and add a vibrant citrus dimension.
7. Béchamel Creation: Construct a velvety sauce by whisking a butter-flour roux, gradually integrating clam juice and half and half to achieve a smooth, rich consistency.
8. Sauce Seasoning: Elevate the béchamel with Old Bay, salt, and freshly ground pepper, developing a nuanced and complex flavor profile.
9. Assembly: Meticulously stuff pasta shells with the seafood mixture, arranging them precisely in a prepared baking dish.
10. Final Preparation: Generously coat shells with béchamel sauce, sprinkle breadcrumbs for textural contrast, then bake until bubbling and golden-brown, finishing with a brief broil to create a crisp, appetizing crust.

Notes

• Seafood Freshness Check: Use only the freshest, highest-quality seafood to guarantee an exceptional taste and prevent any potential food safety issues.
• Pasta Shell Precision: Cook shells just until al dente to prevent them from becoming mushy when baked, ensuring a perfect texture for stuffing.
• Sauce Smoothing Technique: Whisk béchamel sauce continuously to prevent lumps and achieve a silky, luxurious consistency that coats the shells evenly.
• Broiling Brilliance: Watch carefully during the final broiling stage to create a golden-brown crust without burning, as the difference between perfection and disaster is just seconds.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 500
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 28 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg