The Best Ina Garten Seafood Casserole Recipe Ever Made

Indulgent seafood casserole promises an oceanic adventure that transforms ordinary dinners into extraordinary culinary experiences.

Crafted with luxurious ingredients, this dish whispers tales of coastal comfort and gourmet sophistication.

Rich, creamy textures blend seamlessly with delicate marine flavors that dance across your palate.

Every forkful carries the essence of maritime elegance and home-style warmth.

The recipe marries fresh seafood with a velvety sauce that elevates simple ingredients into something magical.

Balanced and decadent, this casserole represents a harmonious celebration of ocean-inspired cuisine: prepare to be delighted.

Why Ina Garten’s Seafood Casserole Is So Popular

• Luxurious Seafood Symphony: Dive into a decadent dish that combines succulent shrimp, tender halibut, and sweet lobster in a creamy, saffron-infused sauce that elevates seafood to a gourmet experience.
• Textural Treasure Trove: Enjoy the perfect balance of crispy panko topping, silky smooth sauce, and perfectly cooked seafood that creates a mouthwatering contrast in every single bite.
• Effortless Elegance: Master an impressive restaurant-quality meal with surprisingly simple steps, transforming complex flavors into an approachable home-cooked dinner that looks like it took hours to prepare.

All the Ingredients for Ina Garten Seafood Casserole

• Shrimp, Halibut, Lobster: Fresh, high-quality seafood with sweet and delicate flavors that create the main protein of the casserole.

• Seafood Stock: Rich base that enhances the oceanic flavor of the dish.
• Heavy Cream: Adds luxurious creaminess and helps create a smooth sauce.
• White Wine: Provides depth and acidity to the sauce and cooking process.
• Tomato Puree: Offers subtle sweetness and bright color to the sauce.

• Saffron: Delicate spice that adds elegant golden color and unique flavor.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings for balancing and enhancing overall taste.
• Leeks, Carrots: Aromatic vegetables that provide sweetness and texture.

• Panko Breadcrumbs: Crispy coating that adds golden, crunchy texture.
• Parmesan Cheese: Sharp, salty cheese that creates a savory and crisp topping.
• Parsley, Tarragon: Fresh herbs that bring brightness and herbal notes.
• Garlic: Adds depth and aromatic punch to the topping.
• Butter, Flour: Used for creating a smooth, thickened sauce.

How to Craft Ina Garten Seafood Casserole

Step 1: Warm Up the Kitchen

Preheat oven to 375°F. Grab 4 individual gratin dishes and place them on sheet pans for easy handling.

Step 2: Create the Seafood Sauce

• Seafood stock
• Heavy cream
• White wine
• Tomato puree
• Saffron

• Add shrimp, cook for 3 minutes
• Remove shrimp
• Add halibut, cook for 3 minutes
• Remove halibut and place in a bowl with cooked lobster

Step 3: Transform the Sauce

• Butter
• Flour

Whisk into the sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until sauce thickens beautifully.

Step 4: Sauté Vegetable Medley

• Leeks
• Carrots

Cook until softened. Pour in remaining wine, season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking until vegetables are tender.

Step 5: Assemble and Bake the Casserole

• Panko breadcrumbs
• Parmesan cheese
• Chopped parsley
• Tarragon
• Minced garlic
• Melted butter

Sprinkle topping over casseroles. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown and bubbling with deliciousness.

Pointers for a Great Ina Garten Seafood Casserole

• Elevate Flavor Wisely: Layer seafood ingredients from most delicate to most robust to prevent overwhelming taste profiles.
• Maximize Seasoning Strategically: Sprinkle salt and pepper gradually, tasting between additions for perfect balanced flavor.
• Manage Moisture Expertly: Pat seafood completely dry with paper towels to ensure crisp edges and prevent watery casserole.
• Blend Textures Cleverly: Mix soft and crunchy ingredients like tender seafood and toasted breadcrumbs for exciting mouthfeel.
• Control Temperature Carefully: Let casserole rest 5-10 minutes after baking to allow sauce to set and flavors to meld completely.

Safe Storage of Ina Garten Seafood Casserole

• Cool Down: Let the seafood casserole rest at room temperature for no more than 30 minutes after cooking. Rapid cooling prevents bacterial growth and maintains food safety.
• Container Selection: Choose a leak-proof, glass or ceramic airtight container with a tight-fitting lid. Glass containers prevent flavor transfer and allow easy monitoring of stored food.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Position the container on a middle shelf away from raw meats to avoid cross-contamination. Consume within 2-3 days for optimal taste and texture, ensuring maximum freshness and food quality.

Alternate Takes on Ina Garten Seafood Casserole

• Coastal Blend: Replace halibut with sea bass and swap lobster for crab meat, creating a lighter seafood medley with delicate flavors and a smooth texture.
• Mediterranean Style: Incorporate chopped kalamata olives, sundried tomatoes, and fresh oregano to give the casserole a Greek-inspired profile with tangy and herbaceous notes.
• Spicy Cajun Splash: Add andouille sausage, cayenne pepper, and smoked paprika to infuse the dish with bold Louisiana-style heat and deep, rich undertones.
• Nordic Comfort: Use salmon instead of halibut, include diced fennel alongside leeks, and finish with fresh dill for a Scandinavian-inspired interpretation that highlights clean, bright seafood flavors.

Summation of Ina Garten Seafood Casserole

Ina Garten’s seafood casserole emerges as coastal cuisine perfection, blending luxurious ocean treasures with delicate vegetable companions.

Saffron-infused cream sauce whispers Mediterranean elegance across each carefully crafted bite.

Panko and parmesan crown create golden, crisp layers promising rich, complex flavors.

Lobster, halibut, and shrimp dance together in harmonious maritime symphony.

Culinary adventurers should dive deep, savor each spoonful, share their delicious experience, spark conversation, and spread seafood celebration across social platforms.

Ina Garten Seafood Casserole Recipe

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4.9 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s Seafood Casserole brings coastal elegance to dinner tables with rich, creamy seafood layers. Luxurious shrimp, scallops, and fish combine in a velvety sauce that promises comfort and sophisticated flavor, beckoning you to savor each delectable bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Seafood:

• 8 ounces (226 grams) raw shrimp, peeled and cut in half
• 8 ounces (226 grams) raw halibut, cut into 1-inch chunks
• 8 ounces (226 grams) cooked lobster meat, cut into 1-inch chunks

Vegetables and Herbs:

• 3 cups julienned leeks (white and light green parts)
• 1 ½ cups julienned carrots
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon

Liquids, Seasonings, and Other Ingredients:

• 1 cup seafood stock or clam juice
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup + 3 tablespoons white wine (like Chablis)
• 7 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons tomato puree
• ½ teaspoon saffron threads
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• ⅓ cup grated Parmesan
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and position four individual gratin dishes on sturdy baking sheets, ensuring even heat distribution.
2. Create a fragrant seafood base by combining seafood stock, heavy cream, white wine, tomato puree, and saffron in a medium saucepan. Bring the liquid to a gentle boil, then carefully poach the shrimp for approximately 3 minutes. Extract the shrimp and repeat the process with halibut for an additional 3 minutes. Transfer both seafood varieties to a separate bowl, gently combining with the pre-cooked lobster.
3. Reduce the remaining sauce by simmering until volume decreases by half. Prepare a smooth butter-flour liaison by blending 1 tablespoon unsalted butter with flour, then whisk into the sauce. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, continuing to cook until the sauce reaches a luxurious, velvety consistency.
4. In a separate skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of butter and sauté leeks and carrots until they become tender and slightly translucent. Deglaze the pan with remaining white wine, seasoning with salt and pepper, and continue cooking until vegetables are perfectly softened.
5. Distribute the seafood evenly among the prepared gratin dishes. Layer the sautéed vegetables on top, then generously pour the thickened sauce over the entire mixture. Prepare a crisp topping by combining panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, minced tarragon, and minced garlic with 3 tablespoons of melted butter. Sprinkle this aromatic mixture over the seafood and bake for 20 minutes, until the surface turns golden brown and the contents become delightfully bubbly.

Notes

• Capture the essence of ocean flavors with this luxurious seafood medley that transforms everyday ingredients into a gourmet experience.
• Invest in top-quality seafood like plump shrimp, tender halibut, and sweet lobster to guarantee outstanding taste and texture.
• Create a rich, velvety sauce by carefully reducing the liquid, concentrating complex flavor profiles that elevate the entire dish.
• Layer subtle sweetness from leeks and carrots, complemented by a crispy panko breadcrumb topping for perfect textural contrast.
• Enhance the final presentation by garnishing with fresh parsley and tarragon, then serve directly in individual gratin dishes for a restaurant-worthy meal.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 859 mg
• Fat: 56 g
• Saturated Fat: 33 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 24 g
• Cholesterol: 218 mg