Description

This Easy Creamy Seafood and Shrimp Chili is a flavorful and hearty dish combining tender shrimp, succulent crab, and lobster meat in a rich, creamy chili base with beans, corn, and melty cheese. It’s a comforting, protein-packed seafood twist on traditional chili that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale

Seafood

5 oz lump crab meat
5 oz lobster meat
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined

Chili Base

1 teaspoon olive oil
2–3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup chopped onion
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 can (15.5 oz) Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15.5 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15.5 oz) diced tomatoes with chilis, drained
½ cup whole kernel corn, frozen

Cheese & Cream

1 cup shredded Colby and Monterey Jack cheese
3 oz cream cheese

Seasonings

Seafood seasoning (to taste)
Chili powder (to taste)
Cumin (to taste)
Red cayenne pepper (to taste)
Salt and pepper (to taste)

Instructions

Heat oil and sauté onions: Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 1 cup chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
Add garlic: Stir in 2-3 minced garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Add liquids and beans: Pour in 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth, 1 can each of Great Northern beans and black beans (both drained and rinsed), and 1 can diced tomatoes with chilis (drained). Mix well.
Simmer chili base: Lower heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and let the chili simmer for 15–20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
Season seafood: While the chili simmers, season 5 oz lump crab meat, 5 oz lobster meat, and 1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp with seafood seasoning.
Add cheese, corn, and seafood: Stir in 1 cup shredded Colby and Monterey Jack cheese, ½ cup frozen corn, 3 oz cream cheese, and the seasoned seafood into the pot.
Cook seafood through: Increase heat back to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5–6 minutes until all seafood is cooked through and the cheese is melted, making the chili creamy and rich.

Notes

For best flavor, use fresh seafood if possible, but frozen seafood can work as well.
Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper and chili powder to control the spiciness level to your taste.
You can substitute the seafood seasoning with Old Bay or your favorite seafood spice blend.
Serve with warm crusty bread or over rice for a more filling meal.
This chili can be made a day ahead; flavors deepen after resting overnight in the refrigerator.
To keep it dairy-free, omit the cheeses and cream cheese and substitute with coconut cream or a vegan cheese alternative.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: seafood chili, shrimp chili, creamy chili, easy chili recipe, seafood recipes, quick seafood dinner