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Easy Creamy Seafood and Shrimp Chili

This Easy Creamy Seafood and Shrimp Chili is a quick, healthy recipe made with lobster, crab, and a creamy, white broth. The secret ingredient lies in the homemade chili seasoning and spice. 

creamy seafood chili with shrimp and lobster in a white bowl
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Chili recipes are my favorite! I can eat it year round because it tastes better the next day and is perfect for meal prep. You can freeze your leftovers, too!

canned Great Northern beans, canned black beans, Rotel, and chopped onions in separate containers
chicken broth, frozen corn, chili spices, and garlic in separate bowls

What Type of Shrimp to Use

Shrimp can be found at the grocery store in a few different ways. There is raw, pre-cooked, raw and frozen, deveined, tails on, tails off, etc.

I never use pre-cooked shrimp. There is an obvious difference in taste due to the lack of quality. The shrimp is cooked and then frozen and you have to cook it/warm it up again. This usually overcooks the shrimp. Raw shrimp only takes minutes to make, just buy it raw.

Always look for deveined, that’s my preference. The black vein that runs along the back of the shrimp is the digestive intestinal tract. Is this shrimp poop? Yes.

You can buy it with the vein and remove it using a sharp paring knife to make a slit along the back and lift out the vein with the tip of the knife.

raw seafood shrimp, lobster, and crab in a glass bowl

What Type of Crab to Use

I use lump crab meat. You can find it in the refrigerated meat section of the grocery store. There’s also imitation crab meat, sometimes called krab meat. You can use that if you wish, it’s also sometimes easier to find.

Imitation crab is processed fish meat. It is seafood and comes from surimi that has been deboned and minced into paste. It does not contain crab. Crab extract is sometimes added for flavor.

Use whichever you wish. You can read more about What Imitation Crab Is here.

jumbo lump crab in a can for crab rangoon dip

What Type of Lobster to Use

I use the lobster claw meat from Butcher Box. It’s already free from the shell and ready to use. You can also purchase lobster tails or a full lobster and use the meat from it.

How to Thaw Frozen Shrimp

Place the frozen shrimp in a large bowl of cold water. The shrimp will thaw within minutes and will be ready to peel.

Seafood Substitution Ideas

You can use any seafood you like for this recipe. You can use the shrimp, lobster, and lump crab I have noted, or any of these.

  • Scallops
  • Mussels
  • Crawfish
  • Clams

What Type of Beans to Use

I like to use a combination of Great Northern Beans and black beans. You can use whatever you like. Here are more options.

  • Navy Beans
  • Kidney Beans
  • Red Beans
  • Chili Beans

How to Make Seafood Chili

  1. Place a Dutch oven or stock pot on medium high heat. When hot, add olive oil and chopped onions. Cook for 3-4 minutes. Add in garlic and stir.
  2. Add in broth, beans, diced chilis and tomatoes, homemade chili seasoning, and Better than Bouillon. Stir.
  3. Lower the heat to medium-low and cover. Simmer.
  4. Season the seafood with the seafood seasoning.
  5. Open the pot and add shredded cheese, cream cheese, and the seafood.
  6. Adjust the heat to medium. Stir and cook for 5-6 minutes until the cheese has melted and the seafood is cooked through.
collage photo showing how saute onions and garlic and seafood chili in a Dutch oven
seafood chili in a Dutch oven

How to Thicken the Chili

I use cream cheese in this dish and that gets it nice and thick. If the texture isn’t thick enough for you, you can reduce the amount of broth used in the recipe. If you like your chili really thick, or if it’s the first time you are making this dish, start with 1 cup of broth. Add more as necessary.

creamy seafood shrimp chili in a Dutch oven

How to Make it Dairy Free

The cream cheese and Colby-Jack are what gives this chili a creamy and delicious texture. You can omit those ingredients to make this dairy free and a little more like a standard chili, but with seafood.

You can also add in coconut milk if you wish. I have not tested this, so you will have to experiment with how much is necessary.

creamy seafood chili with shrimp and lobster in a white bowl

How to Make it Spicy

I always add 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to my chili to give it a nice kick. If you like really spicy, add more!

How to Keep the Seafood From Getting Rubbery

If you overcook the seafood it will have a dry and rubbery texture, which isn’t good especially if you want to reheat the dish and eat it for leftovers. If you’re afraid of overcooking the seafood, you can saute it in a pan and then add it to the chili once it has finished cooking with the cream cheese and shredded cheese.

creamy seafood chili with shrimp and lobster in a white bowl

What to Pair with the Dish

Keto Low Carb Cornbread
Air Fryer Cornbread
Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread
Southern Classic Homemade Cornbread
Southern Cornbread Dressing
Air Fryer Hush Puppies

Topping Ideas

  • Shredded Cheese
  • Plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
  • Jalapenos
  • Cooked and Crumbled Bacon
  • Sliced Avocado
creamy seafood chili with shrimp and lobster in a white bowl

How Long Will it Last in the Fridge

The chili will last in the fridge (tightly covered) for 3-4 days.

Freezer Tips

I love to freeze it using these freezer soup molds from Amazon. It will freeze for up to several months. I like to defrost it overnight in the fridge and then reheat.

creamy seafood chili with shrimp and lobster in a white bowl

More Chili Recipes

Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
Keto Low Carb Chili
Instant Pot Beef Chili
Pumpkin Chicken Chili
Sweet Potato Chili

Chili Cheese Fries
Leftover Turkey Chili
Slow Cooker Crockpot Chili Mac
Butternut Squash Chili
Creamy Stovetop White Chicken Chili
Taco Chili

More Seafood Recipes

Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Buffalo Shrimp
Seafood Lasagna
Seafood Crab Salad
Pan-Seared Salmon
Shrimp Egg Rolls
Air Fryer Shrimp
Seafood Shrimp Pho Soup
Grilled Cedar Plank Shrimp
Jerk Shrimp Recipe
Shrimp Parmesan (Parmigiana)

Check out my Homemade Chili Seasoning here.

creamy seafood chili with shrimp and lobster in a white bowl
Print Pin
5 from 14 votes

Easy Creamy Seafood and Shrimp Chili

This Easy Creamy Seafood and Shrimp Chili is a quick, healthy recipe made with lobster, crab, and a creamy, white broth. The secret ingredient lies in the homemade chili seasoning and spice. 
Save this recipe here.
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine American
Keyword seafood chili, shrimp chili
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 5 servings
Calories 491kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2-3 garlic cloves Minced
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 2 cups low-sodium broth Vegetable or chicken broth will work great. See notes for really thick chili.
  • 1 15.5 oz canned Great Northern beans or navy beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 15.5 oz canned black beans drained and rinsed
  • 15.5 oz canned diced tomatoes and chilis drained
  • 1/2 cup whole kernel corn I used frozen
  • 1 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon Chicken Flavor Optional for flavor. You can also use the lobster flavor.
  • 1 cup shredded Colby and Monterrey Jack cheese
  • 3 oz cream cheese
  • 5 oz jumbo lump crab
  • 5 oz lobster meat
  • 1 pound shrimp Peeled and deveined
  • Seafood Seasoning to taste See notes for how to make your own.

Homemade Chili Seasoning

Instructions

  • Place a Dutch oven or stock pot on medium high heat. When hot, add the olive oil and chopped onions. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the onions are translucent and fragrant. Add in the garlic and stir.
  • Add in the broth, beans, diced chilis and tomatoes, homemade chili seasoning, and Better than Bouillon. Stir.
  • Lower the heat to medium-low and cover. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.
  • Season the seafood with the seafood seasoning.
  • Open the pot and add the shredded cheese, corn, cream cheese, and the seafood.
  • Adjust the heat to medium. Stir and cook for 5-6 minutes until the cheese has melted and the seafood is cooked through. The chili will thicken as it cools.

Video

Notes

  • You can use any seafood you like. Feel free to omit and/or substitute the recipe.
  • You can make your own seafood seasoning using 1/4 teaspoon of: onion powder, garlic powder, crushed bay leaves, dried parsley, and dried chives. You can also simply use your preferred seasoning.
  • If you like your chili really thick, or if it’s the first time you are making this dish, start with 1 cup of broth. Add more as necessary.
  • You can use a chili seasoning packet if you don’t want to make your own seasoning.
  • If you overcook the seafood it will have a dry and rubbery texture, which isn’t good especially if you want to reheat the dish and eat it for leftovers. If you’re afraid of overcooking the seafood, you can saute it in a pan and then add it to the chili once it has finished cooking with the cream cheese and shredded cheese.
Recipe Tools Used in this RecipeAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 491kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 17g
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Nutrition DataMacros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
5 from 14 votes
Recipe Rating




gigi

Tuesday 13th of February 2024

when do you add corn

staysnatched

Friday 16th of February 2024

Step 5.

Charlie Foley Sr

Monday 29th of August 2022

Whenever I buy raw shrimp in the shells, I peel and devein, saving the shells. I boil the shells, with a teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning to make the broth for the soup. Really kicks up the seafood taste. Thanks for another great recipe. Keep them coming. My wife loves when I cook.

Wayne

Saturday 21st of October 2023

@staysnatched, do you drain the beans?

staysnatched

Monday 29th of August 2022

I'm glad you enjoy it!

Holly

Friday 11th of March 2022

Looking for a way to crockpot this and add the seafood at the end....

staysnatched

Friday 11th of March 2022

You can try just that. The standard cook time for a Crockpot is 8 hours on low.

Daysha

Sunday 14th of November 2021

So good! My mon recently moved in with us and she only eats seafood. Was a great a delicious alternative for us all!

staysnatched

Saturday 20th of November 2021

Awesome! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Mary

Thursday 19th of August 2021

You need to make this recipe. It is delicious. I’ve never tried a seafood chili before but I had seafood at home and searched Brandi’s site for a recipe and this did not disappoint! Flavor is great - good blend of seafood and chili plus a nice kick! I used a full teaspoon of cayenne for the spice (like the recipe indicates). Speaking of which - the notes are super helpful. Be sure to read everything - she’s thought of every question that you might have. One last thing - this chili is also great served cold. I don’t love to reheat fish so I had this the next day for lunch and ate it cold - still yummy! My husband enjoyed it cold too! Go make this recipe.

staysnatched

Tuesday 24th of August 2021

Thanks for those tips!