Crab-Stuffed Shrimp

Calling all seafood lovers! This easy recipe for crab-stuffed shrimp is the recipe that’s been missing from your life. This dish it looks like it belongs on a fancy restaurant menu but is actually surprisingly quick and easy to make. Simply prep the shrimp and mix up the filling, then stuff and bake. In just over 30 minutes, you’ll have an impressive, fancy appetizer on your table, ready for guests to gobble up.

The hardest part about this recipe is learning how to cook the shrimp just right. Overcooking shrimp is a common mistake that leads to tough and dry shrimp. For best results, be patient and keep a close eye on your shrimp the first few times you make this recipe to ensure they come out juicy, plump and perfectly tender.

Ingredients for Crab-Stuffed Shrimp

• Shrimp: For this recipe, you may choose a type of shrimp that is already peeled and deveined, or you can do that prep yourself if you know how. As for size, large or jumbo shrimp are best since they can fit more of the delicious filling inside than smaller shrimp.
• Bread crumbs: For this crab-stuffed shrimp recipe, soft bread crumbs, made from fresh bread or only slightly stale bread, are best. Fresh bread crumbs are great in recipes where they are meant to function as a filler or binding agent. Panko, on the other hand, is best for crisp coatings in recipes like shrimp cakes with aioli.
• Egg: A beaten egg serves as a binding agent for the filling, helping everything stick together.
• Mayo: Mayonnaise adds moisture and richness to the crab-stuffed shrimp filling. For a lighter take, you could experiment with swapping the mayonnaise out for plain Greek yogurt. Sour cream or cream cheese can also work effectively.
• Seasonings: A simple mix of pepper, oregano, cayenne pepper and salt-free seasoning mix gives the shrimp plenty of flavor and a lovely subtle kick.
• Crabmeat: Lump crabmeat can be purchased in cans or plastic tubs in your supermarket’s seafood department. Drain the crabmeat well before adding to the filling to ensure the stuffing does not become too wet or soggy.

Directions

Step 1: Prep the shrimp

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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Peel and devein the shrimp, leaving the tails on. Butterfly the shrimp along the outside curve.

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Open the shrimp flat, and place butterflied-side down in an ungreased 15x10x1-inch baking pan.

Editor’s Tip: If you’re not sure how to go about peeling shrimp, take a peek at our guide on how to clean shrimp.

Step 2: Make the filling
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In a small bowl, combine the egg, bread crumbs, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt-free seasoning blend, pepper, oregano and cayenne. Stir in the crabmeat.

Step 3: Stuff the shrimp

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Place 1 tablespoon stuffing on each shrimp. Sprinkle evenly with cheese and paprika.

Editor’s Tip: Any extra filling will taste delicious stuffed inside small mushroom caps. Stuffed mushrooms should cook up in roughly the same amount of time as this shrimp appetizer, so you could easily make this a 2-for-1 recipe.

Step 4: Bake

Bake at for 9 to 11 minutes or until the shrimp turn pink and the stuffing is golden. Serve warm, with cocktail sauce if desired.

Editor’s Tip: Take care not to overcook the stuffed shrimp with crab. While these shrimp are large and stuffed with filling, they will still cook quickly. Keep a close eye on them, and pull the shrimp from the oven as soon as they turn pink and have an opaque flesh.

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Crab-Stuffed Shrimp Variations

• Add more vegetables: These stuffed shrimp with crab can be adapted to include finely diced vegetables for extra color and flavor. Red bell peppers, jalapenos, mushrooms or green onions would all make wonderful additions.
• Flavor with fresh herbs: Basil, chives, tarragon, dill and thyme are a few types of herbs that pair well with shrimp and crab. Mix a few teaspoons of fresh or dried herbs into the filling, and use more as a garnish for a flourish of color.
• Spice things up: You can change the flavor profile of these crab-stuffed shrimp by adding or swapping for other spices in the filling. Turning this crab-stuffed shrimp into an Old Bay recipe would be a natural choice. You could also try lemon pepper, paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning or chili powder.
• Make it saucy: Drizzle your cooked shrimp, or dip it into, an array of yummy sauces, such as a classic remoulade. Other options include this easy Cuban chimichurri for zip and herbaceous flavor. Mango salsa would add a taste of the tropics.

How to Store Crab-Stuffed Shrimp

Stuffed shrimp with crab will keep in the fridge for three or four days when stored in an airtight container. Warm gently in a 350° oven just until heated through. Keep an eye on the shrimp to ensure they do not become tough.

Can you make crab-stuffed shrimp ahead of time?

Yes, you can mix the filling and prep the shrimp up to one day ahead. Store the filling and shrimp in separate airtight containers in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble. Alternatively, you can fully assemble the shrimp up to one day ahead and keep refrigerated in an airtight container until you’re ready to bake them.

Crab-Stuffed Shrimp Tips

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What kind of crabmeat should you use for stuffed shrimp?

Lump crabmeat is a great choice for crab cakes, casseroles, dips, salads and recipes where the crab is used as a stuffing or topping (like in this crab-stuffed flounder). Lump meat is taken from the two muscles that connect the swimming fins of the crab to its body. Claw meat, while delicious, has a stronger taste and is better for soups and stews where you want the flavor to really shine.

Can you make crab-stuffed shrimp in an air fryer?

Yes! Like these other air-fryer snacks, you can make this crab-stuffed shrimp recipe in the air fryer. To prepare, spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray, then arrange the shrimp in a single layer, leaving a little space between each one. Cook at 350° for 9 to 11 minutes or until the shrimp are pink and the stuffing is golden. Note that cooking times can vary with air fryers, so begin checking the shrimp after seven or eight minutes to ensure they do not overcook.

What can you serve with crab-stuffed shrimp?

Make a seafood-lovers feast, and serve these easy stuffed shrimp with crab with any of your other favorite fish or shellfish recipes. Steamed mussels, an old-fashioned crab cake recipe or easy smoked salmon would be all great ideas for rounding out your menu. For a memorable surf and turf meal, pair the crab-stuffed shrimp with any of these steak recipes.