Baked Seafood Pasta Shells
Baked Seafood Pasta Shells is a comforting casserole dish featuring large pasta shells stuffed with a creamy mixture of seafood—typically shrimp, crab, or a blend—along with cheese and seasonings, then baked until golden. It's a popular dish in American coastal cuisine, particularly in regions with strong seafood traditions, and is often served as a hearty main course.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is high in protein from the seafood and cheese, and also contains significant carbohydrates from the pasta and fat from the creamy sauce and cheese. A typical serving provides a good source of selenium, vitamin B12, and phosphorus, with a calorie range of approximately 450-550 kcal.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 480 kcal |
| Protein | 28 g |
| Carbs | 42 g |
| Fat | 22 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 680 mg |
| Selenium | 32 mcg |
| Vitamin B12 | 2.1 mcg |
| Phosphorus | 310 mg |
| Calcium | 180 mg |
| Iron | 2.5 mg |
| Zinc | 3.2 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 4.8 mg |
| Potassium | 350 mg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
The dish is a creative fusion of Italian pasta techniques with American seafood abundance, often appearing at family gatherings and holiday meals. Nutritionally, it combines the lean protein of seafood with the calcium and fat from dairy, making it a more nutrient-dense alternative to simple pasta dishes.
