🦀🦐 Crab and Shrimp Stuffed Bell Peppers
Crab and shrimp stuffed bell peppers are a decadent, flavorful dish—sweet seafood, savory spices, and tender bell peppers baked to perfection. Perfect for dinner parties or a special family meal!
🧾 Ingredients
- 4 large bell peppers (any color)
- 1 cup cooked crab meat
- 1 cup cooked shrimp, chopped
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup cooked rice or quinoa
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (optional, for topping)
- ½ cup shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or parmesan)
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise or cream cheese (optional, for creaminess)
- 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning (or preferred seafood seasoning)
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
🔥 Instructions
- Prep peppers:
- Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove seeds.
- Blanch in boiling water for 2–3 minutes to soften slightly, then drain.
- Make stuffing:
- Heat olive oil in a skillet, sauté onion and garlic until soft.
- In a bowl, mix sautéed onion/garlic, crab, shrimp, rice, mayo or cream cheese, seasoning, and half the cheese.
- Stuff peppers:
- Fill each bell pepper with the crab and shrimp mixture.
- Top with remaining cheese and breadcrumbs if using.
- Bake:
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Place stuffed peppers in a baking dish and cover with foil.
- Bake 25–30 minutes, then remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes until tops are golden.
- Serve:
- Serve hot, garnished with chopped parsley or a squeeze of lemon juice.
💡 Tips
- Add diced tomatoes or bell pepper tops into the stuffing for extra flavor.
- For a lighter version, skip the mayo/cream cheese and use a drizzle of olive oil instead.
- Can be made ahead and baked just before serving.
If you want, I can give you a creamy, decadent seafood version that’s extra rich—almost like a restaurant-style dish! 🦀🦐✨
