Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large round artisan bread loaf (sourdough or rustic white, about 1-2 lb)
- 1 lb cooked shrimp, peeled, deveined, and roughly chopped
- 8 oz cooked crab meat, flaked (ensure no shell pieces)
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions (scallions)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder)
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp Old Bay seasoning
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
- Carefully cut a large circle from the top of the bread loaf, creating a 'lid'. Hollow out the inside of the loaf, leaving a 1-inch thick shell. Tear the removed bread into bite-sized pieces and set aside along with the lid.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, Monterey Jack cheese, cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, minced garlic (or garlic powder), onion powder, Old Bay seasoning, chopped parsley, lemon juice, and black pepper. Mix until well combined and smooth.
- Gently fold in the chopped shrimp and flaked crab meat into the cream cheese mixture. Be careful not to break up the seafood too much.
- Spoon the creamy seafood mixture into the hollowed-out bread bowl. Brush the outside of the bread bowl, the lid, and the reserved bread pieces with the melted butter.
- Place the stuffed bread bowl, its lid, and the buttered bread pieces on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and heated through, and the bread is golden brown and crispy. If the bread browns too quickly, you can loosely tent it with foil.
- Remove from the oven, let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with extra fresh parsley or green onions, if desired. Serve hot with the toasted bread pieces for dipping.
Notes
For an extra kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the seafood mixture. You can prepare the filling up to a day in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator. Just stuff the bread and bake when ready. This bread bowl makes an impressive centerpiece for any gathering and is fantastic with a crisp green salad on the side.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American Comfort
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg