Layers of creamy seafood goodness dance through this delectable seafood lasagna recipe that promises to tantalize your taste buds.
Ocean-fresh ingredients meld into a symphony of flavors that will make your dinner table shine.
Succulent shrimp, tender crab, and delicate scallops nestle between sheets of pasta, creating a luxurious marine masterpiece.
Rich, velvety cheese sauce embraces each seafood morsel, adding depth and decadence to every single bite.
The perfectly balanced combination of herbs and seasonings ensures this dish stands out from traditional lasagna preparations.
Elegant yet approachable, this seafood lasagna transforms an ordinary meal into an extraordinary culinary experience.
Let’s find out this restaurant-worthy recipe and impress everyone at your dining table.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Calories: 490 kcal
Servings: 9
What’s in a Flavorful Seafood Lasagna
For Seafood And Aromatics:
Shrimp: Fresh, sweet crustaceans that deliver oceanic flavor and tender texture; choose firm, translucent pieces with no strong fishy odor.
Crab Meat: Rich, delicate protein that adds luxurious sea-inspired taste; select lump or jumbo lump for best quality and minimal shell fragments.
Garlic: Aromatic powerhouse that enhances seafood's natural sweetness; choose firm, plump cloves without green sprouts.
Thyme Leaves: Delicate herb that brings subtle earthiness to seafood dishes; fresh leaves provide more vibrant flavor than dried.
For Dairy And Binding Components:
Half-And-Half, Whole Milk: Creamy base creating silky sauce with rich mouthfeel; select highest fat content for maximum flavor.
Ricotta: Soft cheese providing creamy texture and mild tang; opt for fresh, smooth variety without excess liquid.
Parmesan: Sharp, aged cheese delivering intense umami; choose freshly grated for best melting and flavor.
Mozzarella: Mild, stretchy cheese creating gooey layers; select low-moisture version for optimal melting.
Egg: Crucial binding agent that helps hold layers together; use fresh, room temperature egg.
For Base And Preparation Components:
Lasagna Noodles: Foundational pasta creating layered structure; choose no-boil or traditional based on preference.
Butter: Rich fat providing depth and smoothness to sauce; use unsalted for better flavor control.
Olive Oil: Smooth cooking fat with subtle fruity notes; select extra-virgin for highest quality.
Tools You’ll Want for Baking Seafood Lasagna
Large skillet: Essential for cooking shrimp and preparing creamy sauce.
9×13 inch baking dish: Perfect for layering lasagna components.
Whisk: Crucial for smoothly blending sauce ingredients.
Mixing bowl: Needed for combining ricotta cheese mixture.
Parchment paper: Helps prevent pasta noodles from sticking.
Cutting board: For chopping shrimp and preparing ingredients.
Sharp knife: Necessary for precise ingredient preparation.
Measuring cups and spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient quantities.
Wooden spoon or spatula: Helps with stirring and mixing.
Assembling a Rich and Creamy Seafood Lasagna
Oven Preparation Warm up your kitchen sanctuary to a cozy 350°F, creating the perfect environment for a seafood masterpiece.
Pasta Foundation Gently transform lasagna sheets into silky layers, carefully spreading them on a lightly greased baking surface to prevent sticking.
Seafood Symphony Sauté succulent shrimp in a dance of olive oil, transforming them into tender, golden morsels that whisper of ocean adventures.
Creamy Essence Craft a luxurious sauce by melting butter and awakening garlic's rich aroma. Blend flour and cream into a velvety landscape, letting Parmesan cheese add depth and character.
Layering Magic Create a delicate harmony of flavors by alternating soft pasta, creamy ricotta mixture, briny seafood treasures, and melting mozzarella in a stunning culinary composition.
Baking Transformation Nestle your creation in the oven, first sheltered, then exposed to create a golden, bubbling masterpiece that celebrates the ocean's bounty.
Tips to Layer Seafood Lasagna Without Sogginess
Replace clam juice with white wine for a more sophisticated seafood flavor profile that adds depth to your sauce.
Experiment with different seafood combinations like adding scallops, lobster meat, or using only one type of shellfish to match your preferences and local availability.
Assemble the lasagna a day before baking and store covered in the refrigerator. This technique allows flavors to meld and makes dinner preparation incredibly convenient.
Kick up the heat by adding red pepper flakes to the sauce or incorporating diced jalapeños into the ricotta mixture for adventurous seafood lovers who enjoy a subtle spicy kick.
Try mixing different cheeses like fontina or gruyère with mozzarella to create a more complex and rich cheese layer that elevates the entire dish's flavor profile.
How to Serve Seafood Lasagna Like a Chef
Coastal Dinner Party Delight: Serve this seafood lasagna as the star of an elegant oceanside-themed dinner gathering with friends, creating a memorable culinary experience.
Wine Pairing Perfection: Complement the rich seafood flavors with a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, enhancing the delicate seafood and creamy sauce.
Fresh Side Salad Companion: Prepare a light citrus salad with mixed greens, orange segments, and a lemon vinaigrette to balance the lasagna's rich and creamy texture, adding a refreshing contrast to the meal.
Elegant Plating Tip: Garnish each slice with fresh chopped parsley, a sprinkle of extra Parmesan, and a small lemon wedge to elevate the visual appeal and provide a bright, zesty finish to the dish.
Storage Tips to Keep Lasagna Fresh
Quick Refrigeration Strategy: Store leftover seafood lasagna in airtight containers within 2 hours of cooking to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth. Seal tightly to lock in flavor and prevent moisture absorption.
Optimal Cooling Technique: Let lasagna cool completely before refrigerating. This prevents condensation and keeps the layers intact, preserving the delicate texture of seafood and pasta.
Smart Freezing Method: Wrap individual portions or whole lasagna in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before reheating to maintain original taste and quality.
Reheating Pro Tips: Warm refrigerated portions in oven at 350°F covered with foil for 15-20 minutes. For frozen lasagna, increase heating time to 30-35 minutes. Always ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F for food safety, especially with seafood dishes.
Creamy seafood lasagna marries Italian coastal flavors with luxurious layers of fresh shrimp, scallops, and crab. Delicate seafood nestles between pasta sheets, promising a memorable dining experience you’ll savor with each rich, elegant bite.
Ingredients
Scale
1 lb (0.45 kg) shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed
2 packages (8 oz or 226 g each) lump crab meat
1 lb (0.45 kg) lasagna noodles
1 container (16 oz or 454 g) ricotta
1 ½ cups mozzarella, shredded
¾ cup parmesan, freshly grated, divided
2 ½ cups half-and-half (or whole milk)
4 tbsps butter
2 tbsps extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp thyme leaves, chopped
2 tbsps parsley, freshly chopped, plus more for garnish
¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup clam juice
½ lemon, juiced
1 egg
Kosher salt
Black pepper, freshly ground
Cooking spray
Instructions
Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare lasagna noodles according to package instructions, laying them individually on a greased baking sheet with parchment paper between each noodle to prevent sticking.
Seafood Preparation: Sauté shrimp in olive oil over medium-high heat until opaque and lightly golden, approximately 2 minutes per side. Slice shrimp into bite-sized pieces and set aside for layering.
Sauce Creation: In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic and thyme until fragrant. Sprinkle flour into the mixture, then gradually whisk in half-and-half and clam juice until the sauce thickens smoothly. Stir in Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper to develop a rich flavor profile.
Cheese Mixture: Blend ricotta cheese, egg, additional Parmesan, and chopped parsley in a mixing bowl to create a creamy, herb-infused filling for layering.
Lasagna Assembly: Layer the baking dish with sauce, noodles, ricotta mixture, shrimp, crab meat, and mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layering process three times, ensuring even distribution of ingredients for a consistent flavor in each bite.
Baking Process: Cover lasagna with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes until the top turns golden and edges become bubbly, creating a crisp, appetizing finish.
Serving: Allow lasagna to rest for 15 minutes after removing from the oven. This resting period helps stabilize the layers, making it easier to cut and serve a perfectly structured seafood lasagna.
Notes
Prevent Noodle Sticking: Separate lasagna noodles with parchment paper immediately after cooking to avoid clumping and tearing.
Master Seafood Cooking: Sauté shrimp briefly on medium-high heat until just opaque to maintain tender, juicy texture without overcooking.
Sauce Smoothness Trick: Whisk half-and-half and clam juice gradually into roux to create a silky, lump-free seafood sauce that coats ingredients evenly.
Resting Technique: Allow lasagna to sit for 15 minutes after baking, which helps layers set and makes cutting cleaner, ensuring each slice holds its shape perfectly.
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO
Degree: Diploma in Culinary Arts
Focus: Hands-on training in classic and modern culinary techniques, emphasizing sustainable cooking practices, kitchen professionalism, and real-world restaurant experience through externships.
Oregon State University
Degree: B.S. in Nutrition and Food Management
Focus: In-depth study of human nutrition, food safety, meal planning, and food-service operations, with a strong foundation in public health, dietetics, and community-based nutrition programs.
Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café.
Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.
Sophie Reynolds
Co-Founder, Recipe Curator & Culinary Educator
Expertise
Education
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO
Oregon State University
Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café.
Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.