Do you and your family ever feel like Christmas dinner has become a little too predictable? Ham, turkey, and roast are holiday classics, but after weeks of rich meals, many families like bringing something different to the holiday table.
That’s where Christmas seafood recipes come in. Seafood dishes work beautifully for a holiday meal because you can serve them as appetizers, pasta courses, or a main course, making them a flexible option for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Whether you’re planning a full holiday dinner, hosting guests, or putting together a relaxed snack-style spread, Christmas seafood can fit the moment.
Use this guide to mix and match recipes for appetizers, a pasta dish, and a main course, then round it out with sides and dessert.
Table of Contents
Christmas Seafood Recipes Included in This Guide
Appetizers
- Warm Crab Dip
- Shrimp Appetizer Spread
- Spicy Mango Scallops
Pasta & Mains
- Christmas Eve Confetti Pasta
- Grilled Lobster Tail
- Crab Cakes with Chesapeake Bay Mayo
Why Seafood Works So Well for a Holiday Dinner
Seafood gives you more flexibility than a single centerpiece roast. You can serve small bites, a pasta dish, and a main course without spending all day waiting by the oven. Many Christmas seafood recipes also pair well with seasonal sides like roasted vegetables, an arugula salad with citrus, or angel hair pasta tossed with garlic and butter.
And if your family celebrates the Feast of the Seven Fishes, this page makes it easy to build a seven fishes style menu without overcomplicating the night.
Easy Christmas Seafood Appetizers
Warm Crab Dip
A warm, rich dip is a reliable crowd-pleaser for holiday guests.
Ingredients
- Lump crab meat
- Cream cheese
- Sour cream
- Shredded cheddar
- Lemon juice
- Seasonings
Directions
- Mix cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, and seasonings until smooth.
- Fold in crab and spread into a baking dish.
- Top with cheddar and bake until bubbly and lightly golden.
Serve tip: Put it on the holiday table with crackers, toasted bread, or veggies.
Shrimp Appetizer Spread
This appetizer is easy to prep ahead and keep cold until guests arrive.
Ingredients
- Cream cheese
- Sour cream
- Mayonnaise
- Seafood cocktail sauce
- Cooked shrimp
- Mozzarella cheese
- Chopped green pepper, tomato, green onions
- Crackers
Directions
- Mix cream cheese, sour cream, and mayo until smooth.
- Spread on a platter. Top with cocktail sauce, then layer shrimp, cheese, and veggies.
- Refrigerate until serving.
Spicy Mango Scallops
This dish feels festive without being heavy, and it’s easy to adjust the heat.
Ingredients
- Sea scallops
- Oil
- Red onion + garlic
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Pineapple juice
- Mango chutney
- Cooked rice
- Cilantro
Directions
- Pat scallops dry and sear in a hot pan until golden.
- Sauté onion and garlic, then add pineapple juice and reduce.
- Stir in mango chutney, return scallops to coat, and serve over rice.
Pasta & Main Course Christmas Seafood Recipes
Christmas Eve Confetti Pasta
A colorful shrimp pasta dish that works especially well for Christmas Eve.
Ingredients
- Linguine
- Red and green peppers
- Onion + garlic
- Olive oil
- Cooked shrimp
- Parmesan
Directions
- Cook pasta.
- Sauté peppers, onion, garlic, and seasonings in olive oil.
- Add shrimp, toss with pasta, and top with Parmesan.
Swap idea: Angel hair pasta also works well here if you prefer a lighter pasta.
Grilled Lobster Tail
Lobster feels “special occasion,” but grilling it is straightforward.
Ingredients
- Lobster tails
- Melted butter
- Lemon juice + zest
- Chives, parsley
- Garlic
- Olive oil
- Black pepper (and optional red pepper flakes)
Directions
- Preheat grill or grill pan. Mix butter, lemon, herbs, and garlic.
- Cut shell, brush with oil, season, and grill flesh-side down.
- Flip, baste with butter mixture, and grill until just cooked through.
Christmas Day option: If lobster isn’t on your menu, king crab legs with butter and lemon give a similar holiday feel with less prep.
Crab Cakes with Chesapeake Bay Mayo
Crab cakes can be an appetizer or a main course, depending on portion size.
Ingredients
- Lump crabmeat
- Egg
- Mayonnaise + mustard
- Onion + parsley
- Seasoned breadcrumbs
- Seafood seasoning
Directions
- Mix ingredients gently, form patties, and chill.
- Pan-fry until golden on both sides.
- Serve with a mayo-based sauce.
Flavor tip: Capers can add a salty pop to seafood sauces if your family likes them.
Feast of the Seven Fishes (Christmas Eve Tradition)
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a well-known Christmas Eve tradition where families serve multiple seafood dishes across the evening. A full seven fishes menu can be a lot, so keep it simple:
Easy seven fishes-style plan
- One appetizer (shrimp spread or crab dip)
- One pasta dish (confetti pasta)
- One main course (lobster, crab cakes, or a white fish option)
If you want to add more, consider oysters, mussels, shrimp, prawns, or even fried smelts as smaller plates.
Optional Add-On for Christmas Dinner: White Fish or Salmon
Not every holiday dinner needs to be shellfish-heavy. For a simple baked option, add:
- White fish baked with garlic, lemon, and herbs
- Salmon baked in the oven with butter, citrus, and parsley
Both are easy main course choices when you want a seafood dish that feels lighter than a traditional roast.
How NC Seafood Restaurant Fits Into Your Holiday Plans
If you’re cooking at home, these recipes are a great starting point. Many families also choose to take a break from cooking during the holidays, especially on busy Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
NC Seafood Restaurant in Raleigh is known for Calabash-style seafood and classic seafood favorites that work well for a holiday meal when you want something easy, familiar, and satisfying. If your holiday schedule is packed, consider dining in or placing a takeout order so you can spend more time with family during the holidays.
Call 919-833-4661, place an order online, or sign up for the NC Seafood Restaurant newsletter to stay connected throughout the holiday season.