If you are craving a dish that combines the rich flavors of seafood with a creamy, savory filling, the Shrimp Stuffed Salmon with Cream Cheese and Spinach Recipe is exactly what you need. This recipe beautifully pairs tender salmon fillets with a luscious shrimp, cream cheese, and fresh spinach stuffing, delivering a harmonious balance of textures and flavors that will impress at any dinner table. Each bite bursts with buttery shrimp, a hint of garlic, and fresh herbs, making this dish a standout centerpiece for a special meal or a cozy night in.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The ingredients for this dish are wonderfully straightforward but packed with essential flavors that come together to create something truly memorable. Each ingredient plays a vital role, ensuring the dish is creamy, savory, and perfectly textured.
- Butter (or olive oil/avocado oil): Adds richness and helps cook the shrimp to a perfect tender texture.
- Minced garlic: Infuses the dish with its classic aromatic depth.
- Raw shrimp: Provides a succulent protein base for the filling, chopped just right for stuffing.
- Cream cheese: Softens and binds the filling, lending a creamy consistency that contrasts beautifully with the flaky salmon.
- Fresh spinach: Adds color, freshness, and a mild earthy taste to brighten the filling.
- Garlic powder: Boosts the garlic flavor without overpowering the other ingredients.
- Dried parsley: Offers subtle herbal notes that enhance the overall profile.
- Salt and black pepper: Essential seasoning to highlight all the natural flavors.
- Celery salt and paprika: Introduce a gentle smoky and nuanced seasoning edge.
- Salmon fillets: The star of the dish, each fillet is a moist, flaky protein vessel for the stuffing.
- Panko breadcrumbs: Provide a crunchy topping that contrasts beautifully with the creamy stuffing.
- Fresh flat-leaf parsley: For garnish, adding vibrant color and a fresh herbal burst.
- Lemon wedges: A simple squeeze to brighten and cut through the richness perfectly.
How to Make Shrimp Stuffed Salmon with Cream Cheese and Spinach Recipe
Step 1: Preheat Oven and Cook Shrimp
Begin by preheating your oven to a warm 400°F (200°C). While it heats, melt your butter or heat your preferred oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Toss in minced garlic, cooking until it becomes fragrant and golden—this step infuses the base with aromatic intensity. Then add your chopped shrimp and cook until they turn opaque and tender, which happens quickly. Remove the skillet from heat and get ready for the next step.
Step 2: Make the Filling
Keeping the skillet handy, fold in softened cream cheese and fresh chopped spinach to the shrimp. Add garlic powder, dried parsley, salt, pepper, celery salt, and paprika. Stir everything thoroughly until the filling looks creamy, flavorful, and evenly coated. This luscious mixture is the heart of your Shrimp Stuffed Salmon with Cream Cheese and Spinach Recipe, promising a bite that’s rich and packed with good stuff.
Step 3: Prepare and Stuff the Salmon
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup. Pat your salmon fillets dry to ensure the skin crisps nicely during baking. Next, butterflying each fillet by slicing horizontally almost through the middle creates a perfect pocket for the stuffing. Season the inside and outside of the salmon generously with salt and pepper. Then spoon the shrimp and cream cheese mixture into each pocket, securing with toothpicks if needed to keep that delicious filling in place while baking.
Step 4: Bake to Perfection
Sprinkle panko breadcrumbs evenly over the stuffed salmon fillets to add a crunchy, inviting golden crust when baked. A light spray of cooking spray will help the breadcrumbs brown beautifully. Place the baking sheet in your preheated oven and bake for about 16-18 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the salmon flakes apart easily with a fork and the panko topping turns a lovely golden brown.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Once baked, allow the salmon to rest briefly before removing toothpicks. Garnish with fresh parsley and pair with lemon wedges. This final touch brings brightness and offset to the rich, creamy shrimp-stuffed salmon, making it truly irresistible.
How to Serve Shrimp Stuffed Salmon with Cream Cheese and Spinach Recipe
Garnishes
Garnishing this dish with fresh flat-leaf parsley not only adds a splash of beautiful green but also complements its flavors with a gentle herbal freshness. Don’t forget those zesty lemon wedges. A squeeze just before eating elevates the entire dish, balancing the creamy stuffing and enhancing the natural flavors of the salmon and shrimp.
Side Dishes
This recipe pairs brilliantly with simple, fresh sides like roasted asparagus, garlic mashed potatoes, or a crisp mixed green salad. The sides should offer some freshness or subtle earthiness to contrast with the rich and creamy filling while keeping the meal balanced and satisfying.
Creative Ways to Present
For a special touch, present the salmon on a bed of sautéed baby spinach or wild rice, which can soak up any delightful juices. You can also plate individual portions with a drizzle of lemon butter sauce or a dollop of herb-infused Greek yogurt for added luxury and visual appeal.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you happen to have any leftovers from your Shrimp Stuffed Salmon with Cream Cheese and Spinach Recipe, simply store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. This helps keep the flavors fresh and the salmon moist, making for an easy lunch or dinner later on.
Freezing
While the dish tastes best fresh, you can freeze the cooked stuffed salmon by wrapping each fillet tightly in plastic wrap, then placing in a freezer-safe container or bag. It can be frozen for up to one month without significant flavor loss. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating for the best texture.
Reheating
To reheat, bake the salmon at 300°F (150°C) for about 10-12 minutes, or until warmed through. This gentle reheating method helps retain moisture and keeps the breadcrumb topping crispy instead of soggy.
FAQs
Can I use frozen shrimp for this recipe?
Absolutely! Just be sure to thaw the shrimp fully and pat them dry before cooking, so the filling doesn’t become too watery. Fresh shrimp will yield the best tender texture, but quality frozen shrimp works well too.
What if I don’t have cream cheese on hand?
You can substitute cream cheese with mascarpone or ricotta cheese for a slightly different but still creamy filling. Just keep in mind the taste and texture will vary slightly, with mascarpone adding a more buttery feel.
Can this recipe be made dairy-free?
Yes! Use a dairy-free cream cheese alternative and substitute butter with olive or avocado oil. This way, you still get that creamy texture without dairy, making the dish friendly for those with dietary restrictions.
Is it possible to bake the salmon stuffed with the filling ahead of time?
You can prepare and stuff the salmon a few hours ahead and keep it refrigerated, but it’s best to bake it just before serving to maintain the best texture and flavor of the salmon and breadcrumb topping.
What type of salmon is best for this recipe?
Wild-caught salmon fillets, such as sockeye or king salmon, are ideal due to their firm texture and rich flavor. However, farm-raised salmon also works well if you prefer a milder taste or more budget-friendly option.
Final Thoughts
I truly hope you give this Shrimp Stuffed Salmon with Cream Cheese and Spinach Recipe a try soon—it’s one of those dishes that feels indulgent yet wholesome, perfect for impressing loved ones or treating yourself to something special. The combination of creamy, savory filling and perfectly baked salmon is absolutely delightful and bound to become a cherished favorite in your recipe collection. Happy cooking!
Print
Shrimp Stuffed Salmon with Cream Cheese and Spinach Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
A delicious and elegant Shrimp Stuffed Salmon recipe combining tender salmon fillets with a flavorful shrimp and cream cheese filling, baked to perfection with a crispy panko topping. Perfect for a quick and impressive dinner in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
For the Shrimp Filling
- 2 tablespoons butter (or olive oil/avocado oil)
- 1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tails removed, chopped into ½-inch pieces
- 5–6 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon celery salt
- ⅛ teaspoon paprika
For the Salmon
- 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
- ¼ teaspoon salt, plus more to season salmon
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper, plus more to season salmon
- ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs
- Cooking spray, for baking
For Garnish (Optional)
- Fresh flat-leaf parsley
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Cook Shrimp: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter or heat your choice of oil. Add the minced garlic and cook until it becomes fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the chopped shrimp and cook until they turn opaque, about 2-3 minutes. Remove the skillet from heat.
- Make Filling: To the skillet with the cooked shrimp, stir in the softened cream cheese, chopped spinach, garlic powder, dried parsley, salt, black pepper, celery salt, and paprika. Mix everything thoroughly until the ingredients are well combined and the mixture is creamy.
- Stuff Salmon: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels, then carefully butterfly each fillet by slicing horizontally to create a pocket without cutting all the way through. Season the inside and outside of the salmon with salt and pepper. Spoon the shrimp and cream cheese filling into each salmon pocket evenly. Use toothpicks to secure the pockets if needed.
- Bake: Evenly sprinkle panko breadcrumbs over the top of each stuffed salmon fillet. Lightly spray the salmon with cooking spray to help the breadcrumbs brown. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 16-18 minutes, or until the salmon is flaky and the panko breadcrumbs turn golden brown.
- Serve: Remove the stuffed salmon from the oven and let it rest for a couple of minutes. Garnish with fresh flat-leaf parsley and lemon wedges if desired. Serve warm and enjoy this flavorful and impressive meal.
Notes
- Butter can be substituted with olive oil or avocado oil for a healthier option.
- Make sure not to overcook the shrimp when cooking in the skillet as they will continue to cook in the oven.
- Butterflying the salmon fillets creates the perfect pocket for stuffing without breaking the fillet.
- To prevent the panko breadcrumbs from burning, keep an eye on them towards the end of baking.
- Remove toothpicks before serving to avoid any accidents while eating.
- Adding fresh lemon juice before serving brightens the flavors.
