Seafood Casserole with Cheddar Bay Biscuits

This is my grandma's seafood casserole with Red Lobster Cheddar Bay biscuits added in place of the original cracker topping. You'll love the rich flavor. It's perfect for holidays and special occasions.

If you're looking for a show-stopping seafood casserole, this is The One. This decadent dish is absolutely delicious and full of flavor and texture yet is incredibly easy to make.

This is an old-fashioned family recipe with an upgrade — Cheddar Bay biscuits in place of cracker crumbs. Trust me, it's as good as it sounds!

Layers of seafood combine with a creamy lemon-wine sauce and are topped with butter cheddar bay biscuits, oven baked and served hot and fresh.

★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★

This seafood casserole is a family recipe.

This is one of those recipes that's withstood the test of time, brings a little nostalgia, and has been tinkered with just enough to perfect it over the years.

My grandma's seafood casserole recipe originally called for a cracker crumb topping. However, I replaced the crackers with Red Lobster's cheddar bay biscuits. I'm pretty sure you're going to be happy with this little change up!

The inside stays the same, packed with seafood. Clams, crawdad or lobster tails, shrimp, crab meat, and scallops are brought together with of touch of creaminess, zesty freshness from lemons, and a dose of sophistication from a heavy pour of white wine.

An Ode to my Grandma

One of my favorite food bloggers, Lindsay from Pinch of Yum, inspired me to start documenting and sharing my own favorite recipes. In the early days, she often includes stories with her recipes and I started out doing the same. So when I decided to update this recipe about 12 years later, I found some words that I wanted to preserve. Here they are. Feel free to skip, but I couldn't let these be deleted forever...

I'm gathered around my aunt's kitchen island as we did for many holidays growing up. I can't recall which one it was this time. Easter? Christmas? Thanksgiving? I do remember that my aunt had dug up this seafood casserole recipe used by her mom, my grandma, who had since passed away.

At that point it had been about 10 years since she died and you could still feel the void of her presence at family gatherings. The void wasn't exactly a bad feeling. Not having her there anymore felt sad for sure but it also created this space to appreciate all that she was. Does that make sense? It's like the absence of her there made me miss and realize all too clearly the little things that she added to our family dynamic.

I remember right after she left this Earth, feeling a sense of responsibility for filling that void with things that she did. I laughed extra loudly at things I knew she'd think were funny too, I danced around and acted silly because she used to do that to lighten the mood.

She made funny faces, gave away big smiles with her lipsticked mouth and pretty eyes, stomped her foot and muttered under her breath when she was mad. All those little things were her and some of her is in me. I felt and still feel, this sense of duty to keep those things alive as best I can.

It's now been almost 30 years since my grandma has been gone but I still remember her soft skin, her roast beef and buttered toast lunches, and her stash of molasses cookies you could find sealed in a bright orange Tupperware container in the cabinet. It feels like it was just yesterday sitting on their big floral couch, watching jeopardy with her and grandpa while we ate whipped cream and Jell-o together.

So food memories are a real thing that I'm not sure if everyone has but I know I do and I cherish them. This recipe especially brings back all the feels with each warm and cozy bite.

Recreating some of my favorite foods I remember eating with my family is just one more little way I can carry on the joy my grandma brought to our family. And really, isn't that what family traditions are all about?

★ Ingredients You'll Need ★

This recipe is really fairly simple!

Here's a look at what you'll need:

• You'll need a medley of seafood. Canned or frozen (thawed and be sure it's cooked or you will want to cook it first). Crawfish or lobster tails, shrimp, clams, and crab - fresh is preferred here if possible!
• Water chestnuts. Don't skip these! These layer in and add crunch and freshness.
• Celery. Adds flavor, a little crunch and freshness.
• Onion. Red, yellow, or white onion will work.
• Heavy cream. This adds richness. You can use milk if you prefer.
• White wine. This brings out the flavor of the seafood and seasons the cream sauce.
• Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix. You'll need butter and cheddar cheese per the box directions as well.

★ How to Make this Recipe ★

This casserole is so tasty and impressive yet is very easy to prepare.

Here are the steps:

• Mix together filling ingredients.
• Add filling to a greased baking dish.
• Prepare biscuit batter.
• Add dollops of batter on top of the filling.
• Bake. Cover then bake longer.
• Make butter-herb glaze.
• Brush biscuits with butter.
• Garnish and serve.

Simple as that!

★ Tips & FAQs ★

What's the best type of seafood to use?

You can use fresh or canned seafood for this depending on what's available to you. It's okay to mix some fresh seafood with canned and/or frozen. The more you can get fresh, the better the flavor.

This casserole recipe is meant for a special occasion since it can get a little expensive and it's very rich in flavor as well.

If you're lucky enough to have leftover crab, crawfish and/or lobster and you're wondering what to do with it, this can also make a really easy weeknight dinner casserole.

Can I add other types of seafood?

Sure! Just be sure the seafood is precooked and you can add anything you'd like.

Can I prepare this casserole in advance?

Yes, you can prepare the seafood filling ahead of time and refrigerate it. Make and spoon on the biscuit batter just before baking.

What sides go well with this casserole?

A simple green salad, steamed vegetables, or a light broccoli slaw complement the richness of the seafood casserole.

Can I add extra seasoning to the casserole?

Yes, you can add Old Bay seasoning. It pairs perfectly with seafood. Feel free to add this after baking or mix it right into the filling before baking. A little goes a long way.

Side note, Old Bay tastes great with corn on the cob, macaroni and cheese, pork, and well, just about anything else really!

★ More Recipes You'll Love ★

Love seafood?

Browse all my seafood recipes! Pin your favorites for later.

Try my easy seafood boil recipe.

This seafood casserole with biscuits was featured on South Your Mouth!