Flaky fillets of salmon stuffed with shrimp and lots of cheese make a dinner that's elegant for guests but also works for a tasty dinner at home. You may think shrimp stuffed salmon is too much work or too difficult but it's actually much easier than you'd think.
I love when I run across recipes or dishes that look spectacular and elegant but are actually easy to make. In this recipe, succulent shrimp sauteed in garlic are mixed with cheese and then used to make a stuffing for salmon fillets.
This baked stuffed salmon recipe only requires 7 ingredients and I am going to show you how you can easily prepare this dish to impress your family and friends!
Stuffed Salmon with Shrimp
Salmon is such an easy and versatile fish to prepare and stuffing it with shrimp makes it even better. This was inspired by another garlic shrimp recipe on Kitchen Divas, and pairs well with this amazing broccoli rice side dish recipe. Get more ideas for side dishes in this piece on what to serve with shrimp.
If you enjoy cooking up special meals with salmon, you might also enjoy Almond Crusted Salmon or for simple weeknight meals, Salmon Al Horno.
Ingredients
The 7 ingredients required to make this seafood dish can easily be picked up at your local grocery store. Read our top tips on buying and storing fish and shellfish.
- olive oil
- wild salmon fillets
- fresh garlic cloves
- raw shrimp
- mayonnaise
- Parmesan cheese
- mozzarella cheese
- salt and pepper
See the recipe card further down on the page for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
How to Make Stuffed Salmon
Let's walk through the basic preparation of stuffing salmon with shrimp. You will find more details and step-by-step photos in the recipe card.
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Turn the oven on and heat to 350º F.
Step 2: Saute the Shrimp
Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot add the shrimp and garlic.
Stir often while cooking so you don't burn the garlic. Cook until shrimp is pink and opaque. When the shrimp is cooked, remove it from heat.
Step 3: Mix the Filling
Mix together the mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese with the cooked shrimp and garlic to make the salmon stuffing.
Step 4: Stuff the Salmon
Use a sharp knife to cut each fillet horizontally, creating a pocket for the stuffing. Be sure not to cut all the way through the fillet.
Stuff each fillet with shrimp and cheese mixture. Be sure to save some to add to the top at the end of baking.
Sprinkle each fillet with salt and pepper.
Step 5: Cooking Stuffed Salmon
Bake the salmon for 20 minutes. When ready, remove from oven and add remaining stuffing to the top of each fillet.
Turn up the heat and broil the salmon for 5 minutes or until golden brown.
Hint: Use a fish spatula to transfer the fish from the pan to the plate. It's longer to keep the fish from breaking and slotted to allow any excess fish juice to drip off.
Substitutions
Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this salmon stuffed with shrimp.
- Salmon - Swap out with your favorite fish. Thicker fish fillets such as tuna or cod work best for stuffing.
- Shrimp - Make with crab or lobster instead of shrimp.
- Cheeses: Swap out the parmesan and mozzarella for swiss cheese.
Variations
Want to personalize this stuffed salmon recipe with shrimp? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.
- Dairy-free - leave out the cheese for a dairy-free version of this recipe.
- Crab and shrimp stuffed salmon - Replace half the shrimp with jumbo lump crab meat to make the filling for the recipe.
- Florentine - Add ½ cup well squeezed frozen spinach to the stuffing mixture to make shrimp and spinach stuffed salmon.
If you love recipes using up leftover salmon, you may enjoy this smoked salmon cakes recipe made with cooked salmon.
Equipment
This easy salmon recipe uses only basic kitchen tools to prepare.
- Skillet
- Sharp knife
- Mixing bowl
- Small roasting pan or baking sheet
- Spatula
Storage
Store leftover cooked seafood stuffed salmon in the refrigerator for up to three days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Tips
When making salmon stuffed with shrimp here are a few tips to help you get the best results.
- When cutting the pocket for the stuffing, be sure not to cut all the way through.
- Don't overcook the shrimp. They will cook quickly, in less than five minutes and need to be stirred frequently so the garlic doesn't burn.
- Use a fish spatula when serving so the fish doesn't break in half.
More Salmon Recipes
Do you want to cook and eat more salmon? Here are some recipes you may also like to try:
FAQ
Do you have questions about preparing shrimp stuffed salmon? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about this salmon recipe.
The best way to check the doneness of the salmon is to insert a meat thermometer into the thickest area of the fish. For a medium-cooked piece of salmon, the temperature should read 130° F and for a well-cooked piece of salmon, 145° F. The fish will continue to cook a bit once it's removed from the heat so keep that in mind. If you don't have a thermometer, the fish should easily flake with a fork.
That's ok here's what you need to do. Go ahead and add the stuffing the best you can, then tie a piece of kitchen string in 1-2 spots around the salmon to hold it together. Cut and remove the strings after cooking for 20 minutes and before adding the extra stuffing on top and returning it to the oven to broil.
In general, wild-caught Pacific salmon is considered a healthier and more sustainable fish than Atlantic farmed raised salmon. When choosing the actual fillets, look for thicker pieces that will make it easier to stuff. If you can't find fresh, frozen salmon is a good option.
It's better to leave the skin intact while the salmon cooks as it helps to keep the fish moist during cooking. Be sure to place the salmon skin side down on the pan. Once cooked, the skin should easily slide off.
Shrimp Stuffed Salmon Video
Shrimp Stuffed Salmon
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Shrimp Stuffed Salmon
Equipment
- skillet
- Small roasting pan or baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 8 ounce salmon fillets
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 8 oz raw shrimp no tails
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Get out and measure your ingredients.
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil.
- When oil is heated, add shrimp and garlic.
- Stir often, being sure not to burn the garlic.
- Cook until shrimp is pink and opaque. Remove from heat.
- Stir in mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese.
- Using a sharp knife, cut each fillet horizontally, creating a pocket for the stuffing. Be sure not to cut all the way through the fillet.
- Stuff each fillet with stuffing. Be sure to save some to add to the top at the end of baking.
- Place the stuffed salmon fillets on a baking sheet or roasting pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven and add remaining stuffing to the top of each fillet.
- Broil for 5 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve up with your favorite sides.
- Enjoy each bite!
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