This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
If you like shrimp, you should definitely try this recipe. If you don’t like shrimp, you should still try it because it is so good! This Smoked Stuffed Shrimp recipe is a mouth full of savory, delicious fishy goodness! Perfect as a party appetizer or just a great snack. It’s a must have this summer season.
For small, appetizer sized bites, replicate this recipe on these texas bread crab toasts or crispy cajun salmon bites.
Table of Contents
- What makes a great appetizer?
- Ingredient List for Smoked Stuffed Shrimp.
- Step 1: It’s all about the crab meat stuffing
- Recipe Tip
- Step 2: Prepare the shrimp
- Recipe Tip
- Recipe Tip
- Step 3: Grill the smoked stuffed shrimp
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Delicious Grilled Shrimp Recipe Ideas:
- Smoked Stuffed Shrimp Recipe
What makes a great appetizer?
Personally, I’m a huge fan of appetizers. In many cases they end up being better than the main course itself – if done right!
The key to a good appetizer is taste, size, easy to eat with one hand and variety. Not everyone wants a bruschetta…
Taste – an appetizer needs to wow with just one bite. All those amazing flavors packed into one small piece for the taste buds to go crazy.
Size – the key to an appetizer is the one bite approach. Also known as finger food, it needs the right size to hold with two or three fingers while the other hand is occupied with a drink.
Easy to eat – the last thing you want is a messy appetizer or stained shirt…
Variety – when I’m at a party I want to be served different appetizers. Not everyone likes bruschetta or goat cheese. Give your guests some variety to pick and choose from.
Ingredient List for Smoked Stuffed Shrimp.
- Shrimp: use jumbo deveined shrimp. These will be large enough to hold the filling.
- Crab Meat: I recommend using white crab meat vs. dark meat. It’s more delicate and flaky. A great alternative is imitation crab meat. It’s less expensive and will work just as well.
- Mayo: use the brand you prefer most. We are a Hellmans household, but Dukes is a popular choice as is Japanese Kewpie.
- Cheese: I used an equal mix of shredded parmesan and pepper jack cheese. I like the buttery richness of a dry parmesan and to add gooeyness and a little bit of a kick, pepper jack is the perfect blend. For a milder flavor, go with a monterey jack or white cheddar. I recommend buying a block of cheese and shredding it yourself. It will be fresher and won’t have any of the anti-caking ingredients.
- Lemon: the stuffing needs acid to break up the fattiness from the mayo and cheese. Freshly squeezed lemon juice will brighten up the flavor.
- Seasoning: use an all purpose seasoning or a mix of salt and pepper with a pinch of paprika.
Step 1: It’s all about the crab meat stuffing
Can’t have smoked stuffed shrimp with this rich, creamy, flavorful crab meat stuffing. It’s the best bite you will have. Fast and easy to make, it brings the whole dish together.
In a large mixing bowl, add crab meat, mayo, chopped parsley, Dad’s All Purpose rub, breadcrumbs, shredded pepper jack cheese and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Mix the ingredients together and set aside. Adjust the seasoning and lemon flavors to your liking.
Recipe Tip
Use white crab meat which is more delicate and flaky vs. dark meat that has a stronger aroma and a mussier texture.
Dad’s Seasonings
Must have grillin seasonings!
Step 2: Prepare the shrimp
For this recipe I went with fresh, deveined shrimp that I picked up at my local grocer.
Recipe Tip
If you are purchasing frozen shrimp, make sure to defrost before seasoning.
De-shell the shrimp, only leaving the tail intact for easier handling. Cut a thicker slice in the area where the shrimp was deveined to open it up more.
Scoop up about 2 tablespoons of the crab meat stuffing and form it into a ball. Place the stuffing on top of the shrimp along side the curved part. Arrange the stuffed shrimp in a cast iron skillet and lightly season everything with Dad’s All Purpose rub. Place small pieces of butter in between the shrimp and this dish is ready to hit the grill.
Recipe Tip
Minced garlic is another great ingredient to the butter to give the recipe a boost of sharpness and savoriness.
Step 3: Grill the smoked stuffed shrimp
Preheat the grill to 275 degrees and set for indirect heat. Place the full cast iron on the grates and smoke for 25 minutes allowing the shrimp to cook to a light pink and warm up the stuffing.
Remove it off the grill, shred some parmesan over the top, sprinkle some freshly chopped parsley, squeezed some fresh lemon juice and enjoy this delicious smoked stuffed shrimp recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions:
All my recipes can be replicated in the oven, stove top or gas grill. You do not need a big green egg or weber grill to replicate any of my recipes.
Yes, a great way to make this recipe more economical is to use imitation or canned crab meat.
Delicious Grilled Shrimp Recipe Ideas:
If you tried this Smoked Stuffed Shrimp or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the📝 comments. I love hearing from you!
Smoked Stuffed Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 lbs Deveined shrimp
- 1 lbs Lump crab meat
- 1 tbsp Dad's All purpose rub
- 1 Lemon
- 1/2 cup Mayo
- 1/2 cup Breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup Shredded pepper jack cheese
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup Handful chopped parsley
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add crab meat, mayo, chopped parsley, Dad's All Purpose rub, breadcrumbs, shredded pepper jack cheese and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Mix the ingredients together and set aside. Adjust the seasoning and lemon flavors to your liking.
- De-shell the shrimp, only leaving the tail intact. Cut a thicker slice in the area where the shrimp was deveined to open it up more.
- Scoop up about 2 tablespoons of the crab meat stuffing and form it into a ball. Place the stuffing on top of the shrimp alongside the curved part.
- Place the stuffed shrimp in a cast iron skillet and lightly season everything with Dad's All Purpose rub.
- Preheat the grill to 275 degrees and set for indirect heat.
- Smoke the stuffed shrimp for 25 minutes allowing the shrimp to cook to a light pink.
- Remove it off the grill, shred some parmesan over the top, sprinkle some freshly chopped parsley and drizzle some freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Video
Notes
- While fresh crab white meat is the best, it is expensive. A great alternative is imitation meat.
- If you are purchasing frozen shrimp, make sure to defrost before seasoning.
- Always add citrus when cooking fish. It brightens the dish, especially salmon that is more fatty.
- If you are using the oven, follow the same cooking times and temps. The recipe can be replicated on any grill or oven. You won’t have the mild smokey flavor but the fish will still be delicious.
I’m Cajun and your recipes remind me of being home in Louisiana! Can’t wait to try them!
Can you freeze these?
I do not recommend freezing leftovers. The shrimp is already cooked. If you defrost and warm up the dish, the shrimp will overcook.
I just saw your recipe for Smoked Stuffed Shrimp, looks great!!
I would love to try it,,but wondering if you could give me the cooking directions for the oven?
Many thanks,
Verra
thanks so much! Follow the same temperature for the oven as for the grill and should come out the same
Awesome recipes