Creamy Seafood and Shrimp Chili (Printable)
Tender shrimp and mixed seafood in a rich, creamy sauce with vegetables and beans. A luxurious twist on comfort food ready in one hour.
# What You'll Need:
→ Seafood
01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 lb mixed seafood (scallops, calamari rings, or firm white fish), cut into bite-size pieces
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
03 - 2 tbsp olive oil
04 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
09 - 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
10 - 1 cup corn kernels
→ Creamy Base & Beans
11 - 1 (15 oz) can cannellini or navy beans, drained and rinsed
12 - 1 cup seafood or chicken broth
13 - 1 cup heavy cream
14 - 4 oz cream cheese, cubed
15 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
→ Spices & Seasoning
16 - 2 tsp chili powder
17 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
18 - 1 tsp ground cumin
19 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
20 - 1/2 tsp salt
21 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
# Directions:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for 3 minutes until softened and translucent.
02 - Stir in red and green bell peppers, jalapeño, and minced garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant.
03 - Add diced tomatoes, corn, tomato paste, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 5 minutes to develop flavors.
04 - Pour in cannellini beans and broth. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 10 minutes, allowing flavors to meld together.
05 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in cubed cream cheese until completely melted and smoothly incorporated into the sauce.
06 - Pour in heavy cream, mixing thoroughly. Simmer gently for 5 minutes without boiling to prevent separation.
07 - Add shrimp and mixed seafood. Simmer for 6-8 minutes until shrimp turn pink and seafood is opaque and just cooked through.
08 - Taste the chili and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Remove from heat.
09 - Ladle hot chili into bowls. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro, sliced green onions, and lime wedges if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The creamy sauce perfectly balances the ocean sweetness of shrimp without being heavy
- Its fancy enough for dinner guests but comes together in under an hour
- The mild heat builds slowly, letting everyone customize their bowl
02 -
- Sprinkling salt on shrimp 10 minutes before cooking draws out excess moisture for better searing
- Overcooked shrimp becomes rubbery, so remove them from heat the second they turn opaque
- The sauce will continue thickening as it stands, so do not reduce it too much during cooking
03 -
- Room temperature cream cheese prevents any frustrating lumps in your silky sauce
- Pat seafood completely dry before adding to prevent the sauce from thinning out