Do you want to impress your guests with one of the greatest seafood dishes of all time. without the intimidation factor? Our Crab-Stuffed Shrimp Recipe will do just that.
This recipe is easy and makes a great mix of flavors thanks to juicy, perfectly baked shrimp topped with simple crab stuffing and baked until golden brown. We love this recipe for dinner, as a fancy appetizer for a party, and, of course, as a holiday appetizer!
From all the trips our family has taken along the Gulf Coast, we have tried the best Southern seafood dishes. At almost every seafood restaurant on the coast, you can get crab-stuffed shrimp, which is my favorite dish. Well, that and Shrimp and Grits. Are you a seafood lover? Add our seafood recipes to your lineup!.
My friends and family say the results are absolutely delicious after I used my cooking skills not long ago to make our favorite New Orleans version. Coming up with fancy snacks like this for our guests when they least expect it is so much fun!
Shrimp cocktail and garlic butter shrimp are delicious shrimp recipes, but for an appetizer that really impresses, try stuffed shrimp. Filling shrimp with a flavorful breadcrumb mixture transforms these little seafood bites into something extra special.
Stuffing shrimp sounds intimidating but it’s actually quite easy. With a simple homemade filling and a few techniques for prepping and baking stuffed shrimp, you can have an elegant starter ready in under an hour.
Keep reading for step-by-step instructions on how to stuff shrimp along with tips for picking the best shrimp size, stuffing recipes, and serving ideas. This versatile appetizer is sure to become a new go-to in your entertaining repertoire.
How to Prepare Shrimp for Stuffing
The prep work for stuffed shrimp is simple. You’ll need:
- Raw, peeled shrimp with tails left on
- Butter or oil
- Shrimp stuffing (recipe below)
Choose medium or jumbo shrimp since larger shrimp are easier to stuff. Peel the shrimp, leaving the tails intact. Rinse the shrimp and pat very dry with paper towels.
Next, use a small, sharp knife to cut a pocket into the back of each shrimp, slicing from head to tail end. Don’t cut too deep or the filling will fall out. The pocket just needs to be large enough to hold about 1 tablespoon of stuffing mixture.
Brush the shrimp lightly on both sides with melted butter or olive oil. This helps the stuffing stick and prevents shrimp from drying out while baking.
How to Make Shrimp Stuffing
Homemade crabmeat stuffing is classic but you can use any mixture you like. Consider breadcrumbs cheeses, sausage, or herbs and spices. Here are some easy shrimp stuffing recipes
Crab Stuffing
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1⁄4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1⁄4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
- 1⁄2 pound lump crabmeat, picked over
Italian Stuffing
- 1 cup Italian seasoned panko breadcrumbs
- 1⁄4 cup grated Parmesan
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Spicy Cheese Stuffing
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1⁄4 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
- 1⁄4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
- Salt and pepper
For all recipes: combine dry ingredients first then add any wet ingredients. Fold in crabmeat or extra mix-ins right before stuffing shrimp to keep the texture crisp.
How to Stuff Shrimp
Once your stuffing is made, it’s time to fill the shrimp. This process is super easy:
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Place 1-2 tablespoons of stuffing into the pocket of each shrimp, using your fingers or a small spoon to press and compact it in.
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Fill the shrimp generously but don’t overstuff. Any exposed stuffing may fall out while cooking.
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Arrange stuffed shrimp in a buttered baking dish seam side down so filling stays put.
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Drizzle with any remaining butter or olive oil.
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Bake at 375°F until shrimp turn opaque, 15-20 minutes.
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Broil the last 2 minutes if you want the tops to brown.
That’s all it takes! Now you can enjoy tender baked shrimp overflowing with yummy flavors.
Cooking Tips for Perfect Stuffed Shrimp
Follow these simple tips for the best results when making stuffed shrimp:
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Chill the stuffing first. This helps it hold its shape when packed into the shrimp.
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Don’t overstuff. Using too much can cause leakage during baking. About 1-2 tablespoons per shrimp is perfect.
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Use a buttered baking dish. This prevents sticking and drying out.
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Bake seam side down. Having the slit side facing down seals in the filling.
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Check often for doneness. Shrimp overcooks quickly.
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Broil 2 minutes at the end for color if desired. Watch closely to avoid burning.
What to Stuff in Shrimp
Almost any mixture makes tasty shrimp stuffing. Consider these creative options:
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Cheese – cheddar, fontina, feta, pepper jack
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Seafood – crabmeat, smoked salmon, lobster
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Meat – sausage, bacon, chorizo
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Veggies – spinach, bell peppers, zucchini
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Herbs – cilantro, basil, sage
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Spices – Cajun, Old Bay, lemon pepper
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Grains – cornbread, rice, couscous
Get creative with flavors and textures in the stuffing. Just use a binding agent like egg or mayo to help the mixture hold together.
Serving Stuffed Shrimp Hot or Cold
Baked stuffed shrimp makes a stellar hot appetizer right out of the oven. Serve with:
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Cocktail sauce and lemon wedges for dipping
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Garlic bread or biscuits
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Pasta salad or coleslaw side
Or chill stuffed shrimp overnight to serve cold. Pair chilled stuffed shrimp with:
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Homemade seafood sauce or aioli for dipping
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Cucumber slices and grape tomatoes
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Pesto pasta salad or potato salad
However you choose to serve them, stuffed shrimp are sure to impress guests and disappear fast. Adjust the stuffing ingredients to suit your taste and enjoy this elegant appetizer for any occasion.
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How to Butterfly Shrimp
- Lay the peeled shrimp on a work surface on its back with its legs facing up. This is the first step in the butterfly process. Run the tip of a small, sharp knife, like a paring knife, slowly from the beginning of the shrimp’s tail to the end of its head.
- Make Small Cuts: Make very small cuts with the tip of the paring knife, going in the same direction each time, until the shrimp looks like it has flattened out. Try not to cut the shrimp all the way through. But if you do it by accident, don’t throw it away. You can still put stuffing on top, and most likely no one will notice.
Why This Recipe Works
Common pain points when it comes to Stuffed Shrimp recipes:
- Over-complicated ingredient lists,
- butterflying the shrimp,
- over-cooked shrimp,
- and under-cooked stuffing.
Luckily, with this recipe, those will not be issues for you today. We’ll give you great tips, pictures, and hints, like what kind of shrimp and what size to buy, so your first time making Crab-Stuffed Shrimp is a total WIN!
This recipe’s crab stuffing is easy to make and doesn’t take away from the delicate flavors of the crab and shrimp. Instead, it brings them out even more.
BONUS: Unlike some other stuffed shrimp recipes, ours doesn’t call for ingredients that need to be cooked first before they are added to the crust. We’re cutting down on the time it takes to make it by using ingredients that don’t need to be sautéed and skipping the usual Ritz Cracker step. Youre looking at a bonus 20 minutes here, people! P. S. There should be some filling left over. Save it and use it on our Crab Stuffed Salmon recipe!
Last but not least, our cook time and temperature combination gives the stuffing time to cook all the way through without the shrimp getting too done.
- Shrimp | 15/20 count, peeled and deveined, with tails on. The number of shrimp per pound is shown by the shrimp count. This recipe makes about 25 stuffed shrimp, which is enough for 4 people for dinner or 8 people for an appetizer.
- Canola, avocado, or olive oil | Any oil with a mild flavor and a high smoke point will do.
- Lump Crab Meat | When it comes to stuffed shrimp, good jumbo lump crab meat makes all the difference. If you can pay for it, it’s the best choice!
- Grated Parmesan Cheese | Gives the stuffing a salty and nutty taste
- Breadcrumbs | We chose plain breadcrumbs because they were easy to make and didn’t take long to prepare. You could, however, use crushed Ritz crackers instead if you’d like.
- Mayonnaise | Holds the crab stuffing together with its creamy texture
- Sliced green onions | Adds great flavor to the dish without having to chop and cook an onion.
- Egg | Another binder for the crab stuffing.
- Diced Pimentos | Bell pepper is often used in recipes for stuffed shrimp. By using diced pimientos instead of chopped ones, you can skip the step of pre-cooking the ingredients.
- You can leave out the parsley, but it gives the stuffing clean, peppery notes and a great color.
- Old Bay Seasoning | This one-of-a-kind blend of sweet, spicy, and savory spices is a must-have for any crab-stuffed shrimp recipe!
- Lemon Juice and Zest | Gives the recipe a bright and sour taste.
Stuffed Shrimp | How To!
What do you put in stuffed shrimp?
Think crab, spinach, artichokes, mayo, breadcrumbs, cheese, garlic, and more herbs. Stuff those seasoned shrimp with this delicious filling, pop ’em in the oven, and get ready to impress! If you love this recipe, please scroll down and leave a review! Check out more holiday recipes here What is stuffed shrimp?
What are the side effects of eating shrimp?
Shrimp allergy can be identified from signs and symptoms that appear after consuming shrimp or smelling it, such as itching, the appearance of red plaques on the skin, swelling in the face, especially in the eyes and mouth, and in the throat creating the feeling of a lump in the throat.
How do you make shrimp stuffing?
PREP THE SHRIMP: Peel and devein the shrimp, leaving the tail intact. To butterfly them, make a slit along the outer side of the body, taking care not to slice all the way through. Arrange the shrimp in a single layer, split side down on the prepared baking sheet, and gently flatten them out to form a base for the stuffing.
What is stuffed shrimp?
Stuffed Shrimp is an elegant appetizer to add to any gourmet meal or holiday get together. Butterflied shrimp is stuffed with a delicious crawfish stuffing and grilled to perfection. A great addition to any appetizer menu. Enter your email below and we will send it straight to your inbox!