Oyster Casserole
I’ll be honest, the first time I heard about an oyster casserole, I was VERY unsure about it. But, I have to tell you, this recipe is so delicious! It’s comforting, savory, cheesy, and surprisingly packed with nutrients.
Did you know that oysters are one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet? They’re packed with iron, copper, zinc, and protein.
I added extra veggies and potatoes to this recipe, and I swear this dish tastes like baked seafood chowder. Plus, it’s topped with toasty bread crumbs! This is a great dish for cold weather, and it pairs really well with a salad.
This dish comes together pretty quickly, all you have to do is chop and saute the veggies, steam the potatoes, add it all to a dish, and bake! For this recipe, you will need a skillet, a chopping knife, and a baking dish.
What Bread Crumbs Should I Buy?
Panko bread crumbs have a lot of texture and crunch and are a great option.
It’s what I had on hand so that is what I used, but if you have some stale bread on the counter that needs to be used up, this would be a great time to use that too!
Just blitz the stale bread in a food processor or blender and you have your bread crumbs.
Where Do I Find Oysters?
I usually have good luck finding fresh oysters at my local grocery stores, but if you live in more coastal areas I’m sure they would be easier to find at pretty much any grocer.
If you can’t find fresh oysters, nearly every grocery store carries smoked oysters.
Are Fresh Oysters Better Than Smoked Oysters?
The beauty of this recipe is that it’s all up to your preference. Fresh oysters have a mild yet salty flavor with a firmer texture, and smoked oysters have a smoky flavor with a softer texture.
I will say that if you are trying to cover up the flavor or trying to hide the fact that there are oysters in this dish, go with the fresh ones.
You could also replace the oysters entirely and use clams if that’s more your jam!
What Is A Roux?
A roux is a mixture of butter and flour which is added to a sauce to help bind ingredients together. It’s especially helpful if you need a sauce to be thickened or you are incorporating cheese into a recipe.
What Size Baking Dish Should I Use?
Use what you’ve got! I have an 11×7 baking dish, but you could use an 8×8 or even a cast iron skillet if that is all you have on hand. Just make sure whatever you are baking with can withstand a heat of 400°F.
How To Make Oyster Casserole
Step 1
Assemble your ingredients.
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Chop the celery, onion, and mushrooms. Place your skillet on medium heat and add half of the butter and all of the vegetables and oysters if using fresh ones.
Step 2
Cook until fragrant and translucent, then add the garlic and saute for another two minutes.
While the vegetables are sauteing, chop the potatoes into 1-inch pieces and steam until almost soft. They will continue to cook in the oven, so leave them a little undercooked.
Step 3
Remove the veggies from the skillet and add the remaining half of the butter. Once it starts bubbling, add the flour and whisk constantly for one minute, making a roux.
Add the half and half, lemon juice, hot sauce, salt and pepper, and parmesan cheese. Once the whole mixture starts to thicken and bubble, take it off the heat.
Step 4
Add the vegetables, potatoes, and oysters to a baking dish. Pour the cream sauce over everything and top with the bread crumbs.
Step 5
Bake for 15 minutes.
Let cool and enjoy!
Oyster Casserole
This oyster casserole is rich, creamy, and totally perfect for any occasion!
Ingredients
- 2 containers of fresh or smoked oysters
- 2 russet potatoes
- ½ cup chopped celery
- ½ yellow onion
- 8 oz sliced button mushrooms
- 2 garlic cloves
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ cup half and half
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp franks hot sauce (optional)
- 2 tbsp all purpose flour
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Chop the celery, onion, and mushrooms. Place your skillet on medium heat and add half of the butter and all of the vegetables and oysters if using fresh ones. Cook until fragrant and translucent, then add the garlic and saute for another two minutes.
- While the vegetables are sauteing, chop the potatoes into 1-inch pieces and steam until almost soft. They will continue to cook in the oven, so leave them a little undercooked.
- Remove the veggies from the skillet and add the remaining half of the butter. Once it starts bubbling, add the flour and whisk constantly for one minute, making a roux. Add the half and half, lemon juice, hot sauce, salt and pepper, and parmesan cheese. Once the whole mixture starts to thicken and bubble, take it off the heat.
- Add the vegetables, potatoes, and oysters to a baking dish. Pour the cream sauce over everything and top with the bread crumbs.
- Bake for 15 minutes.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 192Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 499mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 6g
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