Creamy Baked Seafood Casserole

Creamy Baked Seafood Casserole 🦐🐟🦀
This hearty seafood casserole is rich, creamy, and bursting with flavor. Tender shrimp, scallops, fish, and crab are baked together in a velvety sauce with vegetables, herbs, and a golden breadcrumb topping. Perfect for a special dinner or cozy weekend meal!

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🛒 Ingredients (21 total)
Seafood
1 lb white fish (cod, haddock, or tilapia), cut into chunks
1 cup lump crab meat
1 lb sea scallops
1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 cups seafood stock

Vegetables & Herbs
1 cup carrots, diced
1 cup celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 tsp dried thyme

Condiments & Seasonings
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
1/2 tsp paprika
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Dairy
3 tbsp butter
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Baking Additions
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup breadcrumbs


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👩‍🍳 Instructions
1. Preheat Oven – Set your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a large casserole dish with butter or nonstick spray.

2. Cook Vegetables – In a large skillet, melt 2 tbsp butter over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and mushrooms. Sauté for 6–8 minutes, until softened and fragrant. Stir in thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper.

3. Make Creamy Base – Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly to remove raw flour taste. Slowly pour in seafood stock while whisking until smooth. Reduce heat, stir in heavy cream, and simmer 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.

4. Add Seafood – Gently stir in shrimp, scallops, and chunks of fish. Cook just until seafood begins to turn opaque (about 3 minutes). Remove from heat and fold in crab meat, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, paprika, and Parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

5. Assemble Casserole – Transfer mixture into the prepared casserole dish.

6. Make Topping – In a small bowl, melt remaining 1 tbsp butter and mix with breadcrumbs. Sprinkle evenly over the casserole.

7. Bake – Place in preheated oven and bake for 25–30 minutes, until golden brown and bubbling around the edges.

8. Serve – Garnish with extra parsley and a squeeze of lemon. Serve hot with crusty bread, rice, or a fresh green salad.



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🌟 Tips & Variations
Add a splash of white wine when cooking vegetables for extra depth.
Swap Parmesan for Gruyère or sharp cheddar for a richer flavor.
For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
This dish freezes well—cool completely, cover tightly, and store for up to 2 months.


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