Creamy Seafood Gratin: Quick & Easy Dinner Recipe

Introduction

Creamy Seafood Gratin stands out as a restaurant-quality dish you can whip up effortlessly at home. With its golden, bubbling crust and tender seafood swaddled in a rich, velvety sauce, this gratin is both indulgent and simple to prepare. Its delightful blend of flavors and melt-in-your-mouth texture make it a perfect choice for weeknight dinners or impressive weekend gatherings.

Why This Creamy Seafood Gratin?

This gratin transforms everyday ingredients into an elegant, crowd-pleasing meal—ready in under an hour. The combination of shrimp, white fish, and scallops delivers a variety of flavors and textures, unified by a savory cream sauce and topped with a crispy, cheesy crust. It’s a surefire way to elevate your dinner menu with minimal fuss.

The Heart of the Gratin: Rich, Creamy Sauce

The magic begins with a simple cream sauce, made by simmering heavy cream, a touch of white wine, and aromatic shallots. A sprinkle of parmesan and a hint of Dijon mustard add layers of complexity, ensuring every bite of seafood is infused with deep flavor and luscious creaminess.

Speedy Assembly, Spectacular Results

Once your sauce is ready, simply combine it with your choice of seafood, top with breadcrumbs and cheese, then bake until golden. Minimal prep, easy cleanup, and jaw-dropping presentation make this dish a dinner winner every time.

Perfect Serving Suggestions

Serve your seafood gratin with a crisp green salad or a side of steamed vegetables to cut through the richness. Crusty bread is a must for soaking up the extra sauce, while a glass of chilled white wine completes the experience.

Nutritional Information & Serving Size

This recipe yields approximately 4 generous servings. Each portion provides a balanced mix of protein, healthy fats, and satisfying flavor, with about 400–450 calories (depending on ingredient choices). It’s a filling main course fit for any seafood lover.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate a smart shopping list with all ingredients categorized by store section—a huge help for faster grocery trips and seamless meal planning.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a medium baking dish.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add shallots and garlic; sauté until fragrant and soft (about 2 minutes).
3. Pour in the white wine. Let it simmer for 2–3 minutes to reduce slightly. Pour in the heavy cream and stir in Dijon mustard. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3–4 minutes.
4. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in half the parmesan cheese and season to taste with salt and black pepper.
5. Arrange the shrimp, fish, and scallops in the baking dish. Pour the warm cream sauce over the seafood, gently mixing to coat.
6. In a bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, chopped parsley, and the remaining parmesan cheese. Sprinkle evenly over the seafood mixture.
7. Bake uncovered for 15–20 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the seafood is just cooked through.
8. Let rest a few minutes, squeeze fresh lemon juice on top if desired, then serve hot with your favorite side dishes.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Creamy Seafood Gratin is an exceptional addition to your weekly meal lineup—simple enough for busy nights, yet special enough for celebrations. Save and schedule this recipe to enjoy stress-free planning and perfectly organized shopping lists that combine ingredients for all your dinners.

Planning Benefits:

• CookifyAI calculates exact quantities across every meal, eliminating duplicate purchases.
• Shopping lists are automatically sorted by department for efficient grocery runs.
• Smart scheduling prevents forgotten ingredients and unnecessary food waste.
• Meal prep becomes streamlined and hassle-free, no matter how busy your week.

Pro tip: When building out your meal plan, schedule your recipes together to see overlapping ingredients—saving you money and time.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes