July 3, 2026 · 20 min

Old Bay Seafood Gratins with Cheesy Breadcrumb Topping and Lemon-Dijon Salad

Lunch20 min2648 cal / serving

These individual seafood gratins are a bistro-worthy dish that transforms scallops and shrimp into a creamy, decadent meal. The seafood is seasoned with Old Bay and nestled in a velvety cream sauce with tender potato slices, then topped with a cheesy panko crust that bakes to golden perfection.

Each bubbling ramekin delivers ocean-sweet bites balanced by a bright lemon-Dijon salad on the side. It’s an elegant yet approachable dinner that feels special any night of the week.


Recipe details

Lunch20 min2648 cal / serving2 servings

Nutrition per serving

Calories2648 kcalProtein53.3 gFat195.7 gCarbs170.1 gSugar60.5 gFiber10 gSodium3472 mg

Dietary labels

Gluten-free: noLactose-free: noDairy-free: no

Allergen check

Gluten / wheat: containsMilk / dairy: containsEgg: not detectedFish: containsShellfish: containsPeanut: not detectedTree nuts: not detectedSoy: not detectedSesame: not detectedMustard: containsCelery: containsSulphites: not detectedLupin: not detectedMolluscs: not detected

Values are calculated per serving from ingredient amounts and the ingredient nutrition reference per 100g. Allergen and diet labels use available ingredient metadata and name matching; always check product labels for strict diets or allergies. Some ingredient amounts or nutrition values were incomplete, so this is marked as a partial estimate.


Ingredients

Carrot3 ounce CarrotView ingredient guide
Panko Breadcrumbs0.5 cup Panko BreadcrumbsView ingredient guide
Onion1 unit OnionView ingredient guide
White Cheddar Cheese0.5 cup White Cheddar CheeseView ingredient guide
Cream Sauce Base4 ounce Cream Sauce BaseView ingredient guide
Lemon1 unit LemonView ingredient guide
Shrimp10 ounce ShrimpView ingredient guide
Mixed Greens4 ounce Mixed GreensView ingredient guide
Scallops16 ounce ScallopsView ingredient guide
Parsley0.25 ounce ParsleyView ingredient guide
Dijon Mustard2 teaspoon Dijon MustardView ingredient guide
Celery2.5 ounce CeleryView ingredient guide
Black Pepperteaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guide
Sugar0.5 teaspoon (tsp) SugarView ingredient guide
Butter1 teaspoon (tsp) ButterView ingredient guide
Saltteaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guide

Instructions

  1. Adjust rack to middle position and preheat oven to 400°F. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Wash and dry produce.
  2. Trim, peel and halve carrot lengthwise; cut crosswise into ¼-inch pieces. Halve, peel and dice onion into ¼-inch pieces. Slice celery into ¼-inch pieces. Pick parsley leaves from stems; finely chop stems and roughly chop leaves. Quarter lemon.
  3. Drain potatoes and pat dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine panko, white cheddar cheese, ½ tsp Old Bay seasoning (1 tsp for 4 servings) and a large drizzle of olive oil. Toss to combine.
  4. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add carrot, onion, celery and parsley stems. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften, 4-5 minutes.
  5. Add remaining Old Bay seasoning; cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Stir in white wine vinegar; cook until mostly evaporated, 30-60 seconds. Add cream sauce base; cook, stirring, until sauce thickens, 10-20 seconds. Add cheese roux concentrate; cook, stirring, until sauce thickens further, 10-20 seconds. Turn off heat; set aside.
  6. Open and drain scallops; remove any tough side muscles. Rinse scallops and shrimp under cold water and pat dry. Once water is boiling, carefully add scallops and shrimp. Cook until just cooked through, about 1 minute. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Shake off excess water.
  7. Add scallops, shrimp and half the potatoes to the pan with sauce. Gently stir to coat. (If pan is too small, transfer mixture to a large bowl and toss.)
  8. Lightly butter the insides of two small oven-safe bowls or ramekins (four for 4 servings). Divide seafood mixture evenly among prepared bowls. Arrange remaining potato slices on top. Sprinkle panko mixture evenly over each gratin.
  9. Place gratins on a baking sheet. Bake on middle rack until panko is lightly browned and sauce is bubbly, 15-18 minutes. Let rest 5-10 minutes before serving.
  10. While gratins bake, make dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together Dijon mustard, half the parsley leaves, juice from one lemon wedge, 1½ tbsp olive oil, ½ tsp sugar and salt and pepper to taste (for 4 servings: juice from two lemon wedges, 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp sugar).
  11. Just before serving, add mixed greens to the dressing and toss to combine. Season with additional lemon juice if desired.
  12. Carefully place gratins on plates. Garnish with remaining parsley leaves. Serve salad alongside with any remaining lemon wedges.

Recipe Tips

For even cooking, cut carrot and celery into uniform ¼-inch pieces.

Pat seafood very dry before cooking to ensure proper browning.

Let gratins rest after baking to set the sauce and cool slightly.

FAQ

Can I use frozen seafood?

Yes, thaw completely and pat dry before cooking. Adjust cooking time as needed.

Can I make this dish ahead?

Assemble gratins (without topping) up to a day ahead, refrigerate, then add topping and bake just before serving.

What can I substitute for Old Bay seasoning?

A mix of celery salt, paprika, black pepper and cayenne can mimic the flavor.

DandyRecipes community

Rate and discuss this recipe

Your rating and comments help other DandyRecipes readers decide what to cook next.

Your recipe vote

No DandyRecipes user votes yet.

Recipe comments

0 DandyRecipes comments

No DandyRecipes comments yet.

More recipe ideas

12 similar recipes you might like

These suggestions are based on shared ingredients, meal type, and recipe metadata.