Seafood Dressing

Loaded with tender shrimp, tasty veg, lots of color, and a buttery flavor that can’t be beaten, this Seafood Dressing is so good you’ll forget about whatever else you’re having for dinner! It’s a delish and easy side dish, but it also doubles as a seafood stuffing. Craving buttery-seafood deliciousness? Let’s get cooking!

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I was inspired by Costco’s stuffed salmon when I set out to make this recipe. I love the stuffing they use in their salmon – it’s rich, buttery, and is loaded with flavor. But, their stuffed salmon is a rare and special treat because of the price! It is crazy expensive here, so I set out to make it myself. And, I must say, this is way better, and I think it’s the best darn seafood dressing out there.

What You’ll Need To Make The Best Seafood Dressing Recipe on the Planet!

Go big or go home, right? That this is the best on the planet might seem like a bold assertion, but I challenge you to try it and tell me it’s not! Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy seafood stuffing or dressing:

• Rice – Use cooked rice; day-old rice works best so the dressing doesn’t turn mushy.
• Stuffing mix – Pre-seasoned stuffing mix works well; adjust salt later since it’s already seasoned.
• Shrimp – Use small shrimp so they distribute evenly; chop larger shrimp if needed (see my notes below).
• Crab – Real crab has the best flavor, but imitation works if that’s what you have.
• Seafood broth – Chicken or vegetable broth are safe substitutes; use low-sodium to control salt.
• Cream cheese – Let it soften first so it blends smoothly without lumps.
• Butter – I usually use salted butter, but unsalted works if you want more control over seasoning.
• Celery – Dice small so it softens evenly and doesn’t stay crunchy.
• Onion – Finely chop so it cooks through and blends into the dressing.
• Red or Green bell pepper – Red is sweeter, green is more savory; use what you prefer.
• Dill – Fresh dill is best; parsley is a safe swap if you don’t like dill.
• Parsley – Adds freshness; stir in at the end to keep the flavor bright.
• Garlic – Use fresh garlic cloves; skip jarlic for the best flavor.
• Old Bay seasoning – Go easy at first; it’s salty and bold, so adjust to taste.

For the topping:

• Panko bread crumbs – Gives the best crunch; regular breadcrumbs won’t be as crispy.
• Butter – Melt before mixing so it coats the crumbs evenly.
• Parmesan – I prefer grated Parmesan so it melts evenly, but shredded works too.

What Kind of Shrimp Do You Use in Seafood Dressing?

I use salad shrimp (baby shrimp) in this shrimp stuffing recipe. You want tiny shrimp so that if you do use it as a stuffing, you don’t have bits of shrimp sticking out. If you don’t have salad shrimp or can’t find it, use the smallest shrimp you can get and chop them up a bit.

Use pre-cooked shelled and deveined shrimp.

Imitation Crab vs Real Crab

Imitation crab is widely available and works perfectly fine in this seafood stuffing for fish or veggies. Just chop it up finely. If you have access to fresh crab and it’s not outrageously expensive, use fresh.

How To Make This Easy Seafood Dressing Recipe

For a complete list of ingredients and instructions, please scroll down to the recipe at the bottom of this page.

Prep your vegetables by finely dicing the onions, celery, and red or green bell pepper.

Sauté the vegetables in butter until just tender. Add the garlic and cook for another minute or until fragrant. I like to keep the heat moderate so the garlic does not burn.

Add the cream cheese to the hot vegetables and mix until it melts completely into the mixture.

In a large bowl, combine the cooked rice, stuffing mix, shrimp, crab or imitation crab, herbs, and Old Bay with the vegetable mixture. Stir well to combine everything evenly.

Add the chicken or seafood broth. The mixture should be damp and hold together when pressed, but not be overly wet. It will continue to moisten as it bakes.

To make the topping:

Melt the butter in a saucepan or microwave.

Add the Panko bread crumbs and Parmesan, then mix well until combined.

To assemble:

Transfer the seafood dressing mixture into a casserole dish and sprinkle the buttery Panko topping evenly over the top.

Bake at 350 F, covered, for about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the depth of the dish. Remove the cover for the last 5 minutes to let the topping crisp up.

Chef Jenn’s Tips

• If you’re using this as shrimp stuffing, make sure you finely dice all your vegetables. You don’t want big chunks sticking out of whatever you’re stuffing it into.
• If your dressing is too wet (if it squishes when you squeeze a ball together) add a bit more of the dried stuffing mix to absorb the liquid.
• Old Bay already has salt in it – cook a bit of the seafood dressing in the microwave to test it for salt and pepper, adding as necessary.

What To Do With Seafood Dressing

Seafood dressing is perfect on its own as a side dish. Serve ith with all your favorite dishes, or try one of the following:

• Seafood stuffed salmon
• Seafood stuffed peppers
• Seafood stuffed mushroom
• Seafood stuffed lobster, shrim, crab
• Surf & Turf – serve this seafood stuffing recipe with a steak. Yum!