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Life Roseafied

Creamy Crab & Cheesy Rice Casserole

This cozy, creamy casserole is a delicious way to showcase fresh crab meat. Tender crab is combined with fluffy rice, sautéed vegetables, sweet peas, and a rich, cheesy sauce, then topped with buttery, golden crumbs. It's easy enough for a weeknight dinner but special enough to serve to company. Finish it with a squeeze of fresh lemon an a sprinkle of parsley for a bright, fresh touch.
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Servings: 4 -6 people
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups cooked white rice
  • 1 1/2 - 2 cups fresh crab meat, picked over for shells
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 small onion, finely diced
  • 1 celery stalk, finely diced
  • 1 cup mushrooms, sliced (optional)
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 can (10oz/284mL) cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp Old Bay or seafood seasoning (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp dried parsley
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup crushed Ritz crackers or panko
  • 1 tbsp melted butter

Method
 

  1. Heat oven to 350F. Grease a medium casserole dish.
  2. Sauté the vegetables. Melt 1 tbsp butter in a skillet and cook the onion, celery and mushrooms for about 5 minutes, until softened.
  3. Make the creamy mixture. In a large bowl, combine the soup, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, seafood seasoning, parsley and a little black pepper.
  4. Add the rcie and vegetables. Stir in the cooked rice, sautéed vegetables, peas and 1/2 cup of the cheese.
  5. Fold in the crab gently. Don't overmix - you want some nice pieces of crab throughout.
  6. Spoon everything into your casserole dish and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheese over the top.
  7. Mix the crushed crackers or panko with 1 tbsp melted butter and sprinkle over the cheese.
  8. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until hot and bubbling around the edges and golden on top.
  9. Let it sit for about 5 minutes before serving.
  10. Optional: Squeeze a little fresh lemon juice over the casserole just before serving and sprinkle it with fresh parsley or green onion.

Notes

Life Roseafied Freezer Tip: Freeze the casserole without the crunchy topping. If you want to freeze your Creamy Crab & Cheesy casserole, assemble the casserole but leave off the cracker or panko topping. Wrap it well and freeze. When you're ready to bake, thaw it in the refrigerator, add the buttery topping and bake until hot and bubbly. Because crab can become a litte softer after freezing, this casserole is best enjoyed fresh, but freezing is a great option when you want to avoid waste or have leftovers.