Seafood Cornbread Casserole 🦐🌽🔥 Savory, Briny, and Golden-Top Baked With Creamy Filling and Buttery Cornbread Crust

This one’s Southern comfort meets coastal seafood bake — creamy, spiced shrimp and crab layered beneath a golden, slightly sweet cornbread crust.

It’s rich, textured, and deeply satisfying, like gumbo’s casserole cousin. The kind of dish that fills the room with buttery aroma and disappears in seconds.

Ingredients (Serves 6–8)

Seafood filling

• 1 tbsp butter or oil
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 1 small bell pepper, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Cajun or Creole seasoning
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• 1 (10 oz) can cream of celery or cream of mushroom soup
• ½ cup sour cream or mayo
• ½ cup milk
• ¾ lb shrimp, peeled and chopped
• ¼ lb lump crab meat (or more shrimp, if subbing)
• 1 cup frozen corn (or fresh off the cob)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack
• Salt, black pepper, and hot sauce to taste

Cornbread topping

• 1 (8.5 oz) box Jiffy cornbread mix (or equivalent)
• 1 egg
• ⅓ cup milk
• Optional: ½ cup shredded cheddar, chopped green onion, or jalapeños mixed in

Instructions

Step 1: Sauté the Base

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a skillet, melt butter and sauté onion and bell pepper 5–6 minutes until soft. Add garlic, Cajun seasoning, and paprika. Cook 1 minute more.

Step 2: Make the Filling

In a large bowl, combine sautéed veggies with soup, sour cream, milk, shrimp, crab, corn, cheese, salt, pepper, and a few dashes of hot sauce. Mix gently but thoroughly. Pour into a greased 9×13″ baking dish.

Step 3: Add the Cornbread Layer

In a separate bowl, whisk cornbread mix with egg and milk. Stir in cheese, jalapeños, or green onion if using. Spoon over the seafood mixture and spread evenly (it may not fully cover — that’s fine).

Step 4: Bake

Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes until the cornbread is golden and a toothpick comes out clean from the topping. Broil for 1–2 minutes at the end if you want a darker crust. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Flavor Variations

• Add chopped andouille sausage or crawfish tails for a Cajun boost
• Stir in fresh thyme or parsley for herby brightness
• Use Old Bay instead of Cajun spice for a milder, East Coast twist
• Add a can of green chiles or a squeeze of lime for a Tex-Mex angle
• Swap cheddar for pepper Jack or smoked gouda

Pro Tips

• Don’t overbake — the cornbread should be golden but still moist underneath
• Use small shrimp or chop them — you want bites, not big chunks
• For extra crunch, sprinkle the topping with crushed crackers or more cheese before baking
• Let it rest — the filling sets and gets creamier as it cools slightly
• Want it saucier? Add ¼ cup extra milk or cream to the base

Final Thoughts

Seafood Cornbread Casserole is creamy, crusty, and full of Southern flair — like shrimp and crab stew wearing a golden cornbread hat. It’s make-ahead friendly, family-style ready, and flexible for flavor riffs.

Layer it. Bake it. Break that golden crust. 🦐🌽🔥

🦐 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.