If you’re craving something indulgent and impressive, Seafood Stuffed Cannelloni is a perfect choice. This Italian-inspired dish blends tender pasta tubes with a savory seafood filling and a creamy sauce that’s baked to golden perfection.
The magic starts with the filling—a mix of finely chopped shrimp and crabmeat combined with ricotta cheese, garlic, lemon zest, and fresh herbs. The seafood adds a delicate sweetness, while the ricotta keeps everything rich and smooth. You can also add a pinch of chili flakes or a splash of white wine for an extra layer of flavor.
Once the cannelloni tubes are filled, they’re nestled in a baking dish with a light béchamel sauce infused with Parmesan and a touch of nutmeg. The final touch is a generous sprinkle of mozzarella or more Parmesan on top before it goes into the oven. As it bakes, the pasta softens, the filling sets, and the top becomes deliciously golden and bubbly.
This dish is ideal for special dinners or when you want to impress guests. Serve it with a simple green salad and a crisp white wine, like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, for a restaurant-quality meal at home.
You can make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge before baking—perfect for entertaining or meal prep. Whether you’re a seafood lover or just looking for a twist on classic Italian comfort food, this Seafood Stuffed Cannelloni is a must-try.
Ingredients
- 8 cannelloni tubes
- 200 g mixed seafood mix scallops, squid), prawns
- 150 g ricotta cheese
- 1 shallot finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup parsley chopped fresh
- 1/4 cup basil chopped fresh
- 1 can crushed tomatoes 400 g
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook cannelloni tubes according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together the seafood, ricotta cheese, shallot, garlic, Parmesan cheese, parsley, basil, salt, and pepper.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Spread a thin layer of tomato paste on the bottom of a baking dish.
- Using a piping bag or a spoon, fill each cannelloni tube with the seafood mixture and place them in the baking dish.
- In a saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the crushed tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Pour the tomato sauce over the stuffed cannelloni tubes in the baking dish.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the top.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
I had issues with the cannelloni breaking while cooking. Any tips?
My kids loved it! Stuffed shells with fishy stuff? Who woulda thought? 😂
Yummy!
I tried this, and honestly, it wasn’t that great. The seafood was a bit too fishy for my taste. Maybe I did something wrong?
Why is there seafood in pasta? This is just wrong! No thanks.
It’s alright but I prefer meat in my pasta. Seafood and pasta… not a good combo in my opinion. Just saying!
Was honestly disappointed. The cannelloni turned mushy and the filling was bland.
I don’t know about this. The seafood part seems too much. Can I just use chicken instead?
I’ve never heard of seafood in cannelloni. Isn’t it too fishy?
I thought the same before trying it! It’s actually really flavorful and not too fishy at all. Give it a shot!
Sounds weird tbh. Seafood and pasta? Never seen that before. What if it tastes gross?
Wow, I never thought to put seafood in cannelloni! This is going to impress my friends at dinner. Thanks!
I didn’t have some ingredients, so I used chicken instead. Still decent!
This is definitely a keeper! The combo of seafood and cheese is fantastic.
Yum! My grandma used to make something similar, but I think she used crab. Still, this was good!
That’s awesome! Crab would be such a nice twist! I’m glad you liked it! 🙂
Why didn’t you just use fresh tomatoes instead of canned? Makes no sense!
Fresh tomatoes can be pretty watery though, right? Canned ones give a nice richness to the sauce. I think it’s okay!
I dunno about that. I think canned is easier and tastes fine too. Who’s got time to chop fresh all the time?
Yummy!! I added some extra cheese and garlic. My kids loved it! Definitely a keeper 🦐❤️
Extra cheese and garlic? That’s genius! My kids are picky eaters, but I gotta try that too! 🦐✨
This was soooo good! My family loved it!
Easy to follow, but I added some chili flakes for a kick. Loved it! 🌶️
Seafood and cheese? Sounds kinda weird. How do those flavors mix? 🤔
Chili flakes, great idea! I never thought of that. I usually keep it simple. Thanks for the tip! 😊
This was AMAZING! The flavors were so rich and delicious. Will definitely make again.
I’m so glad you loved it! The seafood really makes this dish pop! I can’t wait to try it myself!
Sounds fancy, but is it really that good? I mean, seafood in pasta sounds heavy. 🤔
Too complicated for me, I prefer simpler recipes. Gonna skip this one.
This one is actually not that hard! Just follow the steps. But sure, if you don’t wanna bother, I get it.
I get what you mean! Some recipes can be super long. I like to keep it simple too. Maybe try just pasta with butter or something?
Tried it last night. The flavors are just wow! Will make again.
This recipe is a total hit! The seafood filling was amazing and so flavorful. Will definitely make it again!
I totally agree! The seafood filling was the best part. Can’t wait to serve this at my next dinner party!
Sounds great, but isn’t cannelloni hard to make? Never tried it. How do you get the seafood inside the tubes without it spilling out?