Garlic Seafood Pasta Bake 🧄🦐🧀 Creamy, Cheesy, and Brimming With Garlic and Ocean-Fresh Flavor in Every Bite

This is garlic lovers’ seafood comfort in casserole form — buttery shrimp, flaky white fish, or scallops baked into a creamy garlic sauce with pasta and cheese, then crisped under a bubbly crust.

It’s rich but not heavy, bold but balanced, and exactly what to serve when you want baked seafood indulgence with punchy flavor.

Ingredients (Serves 4–6)

For the pasta

• 12 oz penne, rigatoni, or fusilli
• Salt for pasta water

For the seafood

• ¾ lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
• ½ lb firm white fish (cod, haddock, or halibut), cubed
• Optional: ½ lb scallops or ¼ lb lump crab
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

For the garlic cream sauce

• 2 tbsp butter
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1½ cups whole milk
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup grated Parmesan
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• ½ tsp dried thyme or Italian seasoning
• Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Topping

• ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 tbsp melted butter
• 2 tbsp Parmesan or shredded mozzarella
• Optional: chopped parsley or lemon zest for garnish

Instructions

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

Boil pasta in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 2: Sear or Season the Seafood

If using raw shrimp and fish: season lightly with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Sear briefly in a skillet (1–2 min per side) or leave raw to cook in the sauce (it’ll bake through). If using cooked seafood (crab, etc.), fold in later.

Step 3: Make the Garlic Cream Sauce

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté 1–2 minutes until fragrant but not browned. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.

Whisk in milk and cream gradually, stirring until smooth. Simmer 3–5 minutes until thickened. Stir in mustard, Parmesan, mozzarella, thyme, red pepper flakes (if using), and salt and pepper to taste.

Step 4: Assemble the Bake

In a large bowl, mix pasta, seafood, and sauce. Stir gently to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning. Transfer to a greased 9×13″ baking dish.

Mix panko, melted butter, and cheese. Sprinkle evenly over the top.

Step 5: Bake

Bake for 20–25 minutes until hot and bubbling. Broil for 1–2 minutes at the end to brown the top. Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley or lemon zest if desired.

Flavor Variations

• Add sautéed spinach, mushrooms, or peas for color and body
• Use Gruyère or Fontina in place of mozzarella for a nuttier finish
• Add a splash of white wine to the sauce with the milk
• Stir in roasted garlic or garlic confit for deeper garlic flavor
• Make it spicy with chili oil drizzle or Calabrian chili paste

Pro Tips

• Don’t overcook seafood in the pan — it’ll finish in the oven
• Keep garlic golden, not brown — bitterness ruins the base
• Al dente pasta = creamy, not soggy results
• Want extra sauce? Loosen with pasta water or splash more cream
• Use fresh parsley or lemon at the end to brighten the richness

Final Thoughts

Garlic Seafood Pasta Bake is everything a comfort casserole should be — creamy, briny, and bubbling with flavor. The garlic sings, the seafood shines, and the golden top gives it just the right amount of bite.

Boil it. Bake it. Let the garlic lead. 🧄🦐🔥

🦐 More Coastal Seafood Recipes

From cozy casseroles to zesty grilled fish and elegant seafood pastas, this collection of Seafood Recipes covers every ocean-inspired craving — whether you’re planning a dinner party or a quick weeknight win.

• 🐟 Classic Seafood Dish Recipes – Think pan-seared salmon with lemon dill and timeless coastal favorites.
• 🦞 Delicious Seafood Boil Recipes – Spicy, saucy boils packed with crab, shrimp, and corn. The ultimate feast.
• 🍝 Seafood Pasta Recipes – Elegant and indulgent, like shrimp linguine in a white wine sauce.
• 🍤 Shrimp Recipes – Versatile, fast, and flavor-packed; smoky grills to sizzling stir-fries
• 🐟 Salmon Recipes – Baking & grilling to bowls, pastas, and more — healthy, flavorful, and easy to make/
• 🦞 Seafood Casseroles – Bubbly, Buttery & Oven-Ready. Comfort food meets coastal flavor.
• 🥣 Flavorful Seafood Soups – Rich chowders, bisques, and broth-based favorites.
• 🍽️ Easy Seafood Dinner Recipes – Quick, delicious, easy recipes bring bold flavor with minimal prep and cleanup
• 🥗 Healthy Seafood Recipes – Light, fresh & packed with protein and omega-3s with bright, satisfying flavor
• 🍚 Risotto Recipes with Seafood – Creamy, silky rice dishes meet the richness of the sea.
• 🌊 Seafood Stews – Mediterranean, Latin to classic American, hearty stews with satisfying depth in your bowl.
• 🍝🧀 Seafood Lasagna – Lasagna meets the sea in these rich and satisfying delicious twist classic bakes.

🧄 Garlic Butter Recipes Collection

Explore them all → Rich, golden, and versatile — garlic butter is the flavor bomb your weeknight meals (and fancy dinners) need.

🔥 Garlic Butter Proteins (Main Dishes)

• Garlic Butter Shrimp – Fast, juicy shrimp with bold garlic butter flavor.
• Garlic Butter Chicken – Crispy thighs smothered in a buttery garlic glaze.
• Garlic Butter Chicken Bites – Bite-sized skillet gold.
• Garlic Butter Steak Bites – Quick-seared steak cubes in sizzling garlic butter.
• Garlic Butter Tilapia – Mild fish with a rich, buttery finish.
• Garlic Butter Salmon – Buttery, flaky salmon perfect for weeknight dinner.

🍝 Garlic Butter Pastas & Noodles

• Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta – Seafood and carbs in harmony.
• Garlic Butter Pasta – Minimalist magic with max flavor.
• Garlic Butter Noodles – A simple classic that pairs with anything.
• Garlic Butter Lobster Mac & Cheese – Rich, decadent, and over-the-top good.
• Garlic Butter Parmesan Fettuccine – Creamy, cheesy, and craveable.
• Garlic Seafood Pasta Bake – Bubbly and golden with garlic and seafood.
• Garlic Butter Seafood Lasagna Rolls – Creamy, rolled seafood pasta baked in butter sauce.

🍚 Garlic Butter Sides, Bases & Sauces

• Garlic Butter Rice – Buttery rice with bold flavor and fluff.
• Garlic Butter Sauce – Base for seafood, pasta, and more.
• Garlic Butter Seafood Boil Sauce – Bold, spicy, and ready for dunking.
• Garlic Butter Mashed Potatoes – Creamy with a garlicky punch.
• Garlic Butter Green Beans / Asparagus – Your favorite veg made crave-worthy.
• Garlic Bread with Homemade Garlic Butter Spread – Essential upgrade for any carb lover.

🌶️ Garlic Butter Fusion Recipes (Flavor Bombs)

• Garlic Butter Cajun Shrimp – Spicy, buttery, and bold.
• Garlic Butter Shrimp Tacos – Crispy shells, buttery shrimp.
• Garlic Butter Chicken Alfredo – Creamy fusion of two comfort classics.
• Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi – Bright lemon and rich butter make magic.
• Garlic Butter Ramen Noodles – Lazy, comforting, deeply satisfying.