Description
Crab and Shrimp Stuffed Bell Peppers feature a savory blend of fresh seafood, aromatic herbs, and cheeses, baked to perfection inside colorful bell peppers. These hearty and flavorful stuffed peppers offer a satisfying meal that’s perfect for seafood lovers seeking a comforting yet elegant dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Bell Peppers
- 6 large bell peppers (red, yellow, or green)
Seafood and Vegetables
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ pound shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped
- ½ pound lump crab meat, picked over for shells
Filling Mix
- 1 cup cooked white rice (optional for a heartier stuffing)
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Topping
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Bell Peppers: Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove seeds and membranes. Trim the bottom slightly if needed for upright standing. Place peppers in the greased baking dish.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Cook Seafood: Add chopped shrimp to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until just opaque. Stir in crab meat and cook for 2 more minutes to heat through. Remove skillet from heat.
- Mix Filling: In a large bowl, combine cooked seafood, sautéed onions and garlic, cooked rice (if using), mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, half the mozzarella cheese, parsley, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly.
- Stuff Peppers: Spoon the seafood mixture into each bell pepper, pressing down lightly to fill fully. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the stuffed peppers.
- Prepare Topping: In a small bowl, mix breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, melted butter, and paprika. Evenly sprinkle this mixture over the stuffed peppers.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until topping is golden brown and peppers are tender.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from oven and let the peppers cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with extra parsley if desired and serve hot.
Notes
- You can omit the rice for a lower-carb option or add it to make the dish heartier.
- Be sure to pick over the crab meat carefully to avoid shells in the stuffing.
- Old Bay seasoning can be substituted with Cajun or Creole seasoning if preferred.
- Use a mix of colorful bell peppers for a visually appealing dish.
- The breadcrumbs topping adds a nice crunchy texture; you can use gluten-free breadcrumbs to make the dish gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
