These Stuffed Shrimp with Crawfish Tail Stuffing are packed with bold Cajun flavor, loaded with a rich crawfish tail stuffing that brings the perfect blend of spice, creaminess, and seafood goodness in every bite
Get ready to elevate your seafood game with these BBQ Stuffed Shrimp. Perfect for special occasions or a weekend treat, this recipe features jumbo shrimp butterflied and filled with a savory crawfish stuffing that’s rich, creamy, and packed with bold Louisiana-style flavor. A blend of sautéed aromatics, Cajun seasoning, and tender crawfish tails creates the ultimate stuffing that pairs beautifully with the natural sweetness of shrimp.
Feeds 2-4 people
Prep time 20 minutes
Cook time 45 minutes
Why Stuffed Shrimp Works
Bold Cajun Flavor That Brings the Bayou Home:This recipe combines the savory richness of crawfish tails with aromatic vegetables, garlic, and classic Cajun seasoning to create an authentic Louisiana-style stuffing. Each bite of shrimp is packed with smoky, spicy, and buttery flavor that’s reminiscent of classic New Orleans seafood dishes.
Smoker or Oven Friendly – Cook It Your Way: Whether you’re using a pellet smoker for that kiss of wood-fired smoke or baking the stuffed shrimp in your oven, this recipe delivers consistently juicy, flavorful results. The smoker adds an extra layer of depth with subtle smokiness, while the oven version still gives you golden-topped stuffing and perfectly cooked shrimp.
Restaurant-Worthy Presentation with Simple Prep: Don’t let the elegant look fool you—this stuffed shrimp recipe is surprisingly easy to make. With minimal prep time and easy-to-find ingredients like crawfish tails, garlic, onion, and breadcrumbs, this dish is approachable for any skill level. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or cooking for date night, this recipe impresses without the stress.
Perfect Seafood Texture and Flavor Balance: Jumbo shrimp are butterflied to hold a generous scoop of creamy crawfish stuffing, giving you the ideal bite every time. The natural sweetness of the shrimp pairs beautifully with the spicy, savory stuffing, creating a balanced flavor profile. The crisp edges of the baked or smoked stuffing contrast perfectly with the tender seafood—making this dish both satisfying and crave-worthy.
Ingredients
- 1-2 pounds jumbo shrimp peeled & deveined(I used 2 pounds 16-20 shrimp per bag)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ stick of butter
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
Ingredients for Stuffing
- 1 pound crawfish tail meat(You can substitute this with crab meat)
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ½ small shallot diced
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
- ½ cup breadcrumb
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon all purpose seasoning
- 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
- 2 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
Prep
Prepare the Crawfish Stuffing: First, grab a large mixing bowl. Add your crawfish tails, mayonnaise, diced bell pepper, onion, breadcrumbs, Cajun seasoning, and any other stuffing ingredients to the bowl. Then, mix everything thoroughly, breaking up the crawfish tail meat as you go. If the mixture feels too dry, gradually add a little more mayonnaise until you reach a smooth, scoopable consistency.
Butterfly the Shrimp: Next, take your jumbo shrimp and carefully glide a sharp knife along the top of each one to butterfly them. You want the shrimp to lay flat in the pan—almost in a scorpion shape. This helps them hold the stuffing and cook evenly.
Season the Shrimp: After butterflying, place all your shrimp in a clean mixing bowl. Drizzle them with olive oil and toss until coated. Then, generously season the shrimp with your favorite Cajun seasoning, mixing until every side is evenly covered in spice.
Stuff and Arrange the Shrimp: Now, roll the crawfish stuffing into small balls and gently press each one onto a butterflied shrimp. Be sure the shrimp tail rests over the top of the stuffing to help hold it in place. Arrange the stuffed shrimp upright in a circular pattern in an oven-safe or smoker-safe dish.
Stuffed Shrimp Cook Process
Cook the Stuffed Shrimp: Preheat your smoker or oven to 350°F (175°C). If you’re smoking the shrimp, cherry or pecan wood adds a beautiful flavor that complements the seafood. Carefully place the dish on your smoker or in the oven and let the shrimp cook for about 20 minutes.
Add Melted Butter: Then, after 20 minutes of cooking, drizzle melted butter over the top of the shrimp to enhance richness and help them brown. Continue cooking until the shrimp are fully cooked and reach an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
Garnish and Serve: Finally, remove the stuffed shrimp from your smoker or oven. Top with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for brightness. Serve hot and enjoy the bold Cajun flavor in every bite!
If you like BBQ seafood i recommend trying my Grilled Lobster Tails
I also have a Grilled Oyster recipe that is a 10/10
Stuffed Shrimp with Crawfish Tail Stuffing | Cajun Seafood Recipe
Get ready to elevate your seafood game with these BBQ Stuffed Shrimp. Perfect for special occasions or a weekend treat, this recipe features jumbo shrimp butterflied and filled with a savory crawfish stuffing that’s rich, creamy, and packed with bold Louisiana-style flavor. A blend of sautéed aromatics, Cajun seasoning, and tender crawfish tails creates the ultimate stuffing that pairs beautifully with the natural sweetness of shrimp.
Ingredients
- 1-2 pounds jumbo shrimp peeled & deveined(I used 2 pounds 16-20 shrimp per bag)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ stick of butter
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
Ingredients for Stuffing
- 1 pound crawfish tail meat(You can substitute this with crab meat)
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ½ small shallot diced
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
- ½ cup breadcrumb
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon all purpose seasoning
- 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
- 2 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
Prepare the Crawfish Stuffing: First, grab a large mixing bowl. Add your crawfish tails, mayonnaise, diced bell pepper, onion, breadcrumbs, Cajun seasoning, and any other stuffing ingredients to the bowl. Then, mix everything thoroughly, breaking up the crawfish tail meat as you go. If the mixture feels too dry, gradually add a little more mayonnaise until you reach a smooth, scoopable consistency.
Butterfly the Shrimp: Next, take your jumbo shrimp and carefully glide a sharp knife along the top of each one to butterfly them. You want the shrimp to lay flat in the pan—almost in a scorpion shape. This helps them hold the stuffing and cook evenly.
Season the Shrimp: After butterflying, place all your shrimp in a clean mixing bowl. Drizzle them with olive oil and toss until coated. Then, generously season the shrimp with your favorite Cajun seasoning, mixing until every side is evenly covered in spice.
Stuff and Arrange the Shrimp: Now, roll the crawfish stuffing into small balls and gently press each one onto a butterflied shrimp. Be sure the shrimp tail rests over the top of the stuffing to help hold it in place. Arrange the stuffed shrimp upright in a circular pattern in an oven-safe or smoker-safe dish.
Cook the Stuffed Shrimp: Preheat your smoker or oven to 350°F (175°C). If you're smoking the shrimp, cherry or pecan wood adds a beautiful flavor that complements the seafood. Carefully place the dish on your smoker or in the oven and let the shrimp cook for about 20 minutes.
Add Melted Butter: Then, after 20 minutes of cooking, drizzle melted butter over the top of the shrimp to enhance richness and help them brown. Continue cooking until the shrimp are fully cooked and reach an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
Garnish and Serve: Finally, remove the stuffed shrimp from your smoker or oven. Top with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for brightness. Serve hot and enjoy the bold Cajun flavor in every bite!
Notes
Smoker or Oven Friendly – Cook It Your Way: Whether you're using a pellet smoker for that kiss of wood-fired smoke or baking the stuffed shrimp in your oven, this recipe delivers consistently juicy, flavorful results. The smoker adds an extra layer of depth with subtle smokiness, while the oven version still gives you golden-topped stuffing and perfectly cooked shrimp.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 320Total Fat: 22gCholesterol: 180mgSodium: 730mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 23g