Shrimp Casserole

Shrimp Casserole is an easy-to-put-together Southern shrimp recipe. Shrimp, rice, sharp Cheddar cheese, cream of mushroom soup, and a few fresh vegetables make a delicious casserole that you don’t have to wait to have company over to enjoy. The tasty ingredients make this cheesy shrimp casserole the perfect comfort food.

shrimp casserole in a bowl and baking dish.


This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Why You Should Try This Cheesy Shrimp Casserole Recipe

This recipe makes an easy shrimp casserole dinner your whole family will love. Baked shrimp casserole with rice is perfect for busy weeknights as well as when company is coming over. It also works well as a buffet dish.

Plus it is a nice change from the usual shrimp scampi or shrimp and grits.

Shrimp Casserole With Cheese – Ingredients You Need

This cheesy shrimp casserole with rice needs only basic ingredients as follows:

  • Cooked shrimp (medium size shrimp is best)
  • Cooked rice
  • Sharp Cheddar cheese
  • Condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • Butter
  • Green bell pepper
  • Green onions
  • Celery
  • Lemon slices
shrimp casserole ingredients on a tray.

How to Make Shrimp Casserole

The fact that the basic ingredients are precooked makes this a quick and easy shrimp casserole to put together. Here are the simple steps that will take you no time at all:

  1. Stir the shrimp, rice, cheese, and soup together in a large bowl.
shrimp, cheese, and mushroom soup mixture in a bowl.
  1. Sauté the peppers, onions, and celery in butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until tender and add to the shrimp mixture. Taste and season salt and black pepper if desired.
adding sauteed vegetables to shrimp mixture.
  1. Place in a baking dish and cover with lemon slices.
shrimp casserole before baking.
  1. Cook for 20 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Serve immediately. You can sprinkle chopped parsley on top for a garnish if desired.
bowl of shrimp casserole, fork, and napkin.

Recipe Variations

One of the best things about this recipe is its versatility. You can vary the ingredients and really make it your own. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Soup: Vary the soup. Instead of cream of mushroom, go for cream of shrimp.
  • Vegetables: Add other veggies, such as chopped carrots, peas, diced tomatoes, or corn. Swap the green bell pepper with red bell peppers for a pop of color.
  • Rice: For this shrimp casserole with rice, you can easily choose brown rice or wild rice in place of white rice.
  • Shrimp Casserole With Pasta: Instead of rice, you could use cooked noodles or pasta such as large wide egg noodles, penne, elbow macaroni, or shells.
  • Shrimp Casserole With Potatoes: Another idea is to use cooked, crispy potato wedges.

Note: If you choose a substitute for the rice, avoid anything that may be too soft. You need ingredients with some body to complement the creamy seafood layer.

  • Seafood Casserole: Add pretty much any seafood you like, and it will always turn out well. Go for a combination of succulent shrimp, sea scallops, crab meat, lobster meat, calamari, or fish. Seafood casserole is a big catch for your dinner table!
  • Chicken and Shrimp Casserole: Combine shrimp and chicken.
  • Spicy Shrimp Casserole – Add some cajun seasoning or cayenne pepper.
  • Topping – Instead of lemon slices, drizzle lemon juice over the casserole and top with breadcrumbs mixed with a little melted butter. Mixing in some parmesan cheese with the breadcrumbs would be good too.

Shrimp Casserole With Rice – Tips to Save Time

  • Buying peeled and deveined shrimp saves a ton of time.
  • Use precooked rice that comes in a pouch.
  • Buy a frozen seasoning blend consisting of a “trinity” of onion, bell pepper, and celery. See the recipe below if you would like to make your own seasoning blend.

Homemade Seasoning Blend

Many recipes call for a “seasoning blend”, which is a blend of onions, green pepper, and celery. Some grocery stores carry a nicely proportioned bag of this seasoning blend in the freezer section. However, you can make it yourself and keep several quart-sized bags in your freezer that you can pull out as needed. 

Seasoning Blend Ingredients

  • 2 cups bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 cups celery, chopped
  • 2 cups onion, chopped

Seasoning Blend Instructions

  1. Toss 2 cups of the seasoning blend into each of 3 quart-sized freezer bags.
  2. Flatten the bags out and place them in the freezer lying flat. Once frozen, they can be stacked upright. 
  3. This seasoning mix recipe is about equal parts of all 3 vegetables, but you can choose to add or subtract amounts or add other ingredients to fit your taste buds.

What to Serve With This Cheesy Shrimp Casserole With Rice

It’s a good idea to stick with sides that have a crunch or freshness to them, so they balance well with the rich flavors of the shrimp casserole. Here are some ideas:

How to Store Shrimp Casserole Leftovers

Fridge: Leftovers can be stored in your refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. 

Freezer: Wrap leftovers tightly with plastic wrap or place them in a freezer-safe container. Seafood casserole will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Reheating: Using your oven is best for a dish containing shrimp. What you have to be most cautious about is the oven’s potential to dry your shrimp out. Follow these steps for the best results:

  1. Thaw the leftovers in the refrigerator overnight.
  2. Preheat your oven to 300°F. 
  3. Cover your pan or dish with aluminum foil and bake for about 15 minutes. The trick here is to use a low temperature, so you don’t overcook your shrimp.

Warning: If you use a glass casserole dish, taking the dish straight from the fridge to the oven can cause the container to break from temperature shock.

overhead view of shrimp casserole in a bowl and baking dish.

Favorite Dinner Casserole Recipes

Check out more of my easy casserole recipes and the best seafood recipes on CopyKat!

shrimp casserole in a bowl and baking dish.

Shrimp Casserole

This quick and easy shrimp casserole combines onions, peppers, cream of mushroom soup, cheese, and cooked rice. 
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Casserole Recipes, Shrimp Recipes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 434kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds cooked shrimp peeled and deveined
  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped green onions
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 4 ounces butter
  • 8 very thin slices lemon

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  • Mix the first 4 ingredients together.
  • In a skillet over medium heat, sauté the green peppers, green onions, and celery in butter.
  • Add the sautéed vegetables to the shrimp mixture and stir to combine.
  • Transfer the mixture into a long, flat casserole dish and cover the top with lemon slices.
  • Cover the dish and bake for about 20 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 434kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 443mg | Sodium: 1795mg | Potassium: 279mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 830IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 374mg | Iron: 3.9mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

REVEALED: Copycat Secrets for 2023

free email bonus

Yes, you CAN make it at home! I'll show you how.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. bastisraul

    5 stars
    I used uncooked shrimp. I placed the shrimp immediately into the hot cooked rice to get them started cooking. This will prevent the shrimp from getting over cooked while baking. The key to this great recipe is the hint of the lemon.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




homemade Olive Garden Asiago Torgelloni Alfredo with chicken on a plate

Copycat Recipe Secrets for 2024

REVEALED:

Yes, you CAN make it at home! 
I'll show you how.

FREE EMAIL BONUS