Oysters Rockefeller Recipe (Simple with Frozen Creamed Spinach)

A Quick Look at This Recipe

• Recipe Name: Oysters Rockefeller
• Ready In: 10 minutes prep, 10 minutes cook time
• Serves: 12
• Calories: 134 per serving
• Main Ingredients: Shucked oysters, frozen creamed spinach, white wine, Parmesan cheese, panko, butter, nutmeg
• Difficulty: Easy

They may sound fancy and difficult to make, but this is actually an easy oysters Rockefeller recipe. My stepmom came up with the recipe and serves it for happy hour along with her sausage balls and blackened tuna bites. I always invite myself over when I know she's making them.

It's the best oysters Rockefeller recipe for beginners. It's got a few ingredients that you just assemble into a fancy holiday seafood appetizer (one of my favorite make ahead Thanksgiving recipes, elegant dinner party hors d'oeuvres, or a snack with cocktails. Whenever I serve these Rockefeller oysters, my guests "ooooohhh!" and "aaaaaahhh!"

What's to Love About this Oysters Rockefeller Recipe

I'm big fan of recipes that are simple to make, but have that "restaurant-style" elegance and flavors. There's so many reasons to love this fresh oyster recipe.

• Beginner-friendly: This is the recipe to make if you're a novice in the kitchen and want to cook oysters Rockefeller style. It has only a few simple ingredients, straightforward steps, and a short baking time.
• Few ingredients and less prep: With only 7 ingredients (and one of them being frozen creamed spinach), this is one of the most uncomplicated oyster dishes to make.
• Saves time when entertaining: You can prep the oysters in advance. Just bake before serving just like my chipotle crab cakes.
• Special and elegant: Even though oysters Rockefeller are remarkably simple to prepare, they always are impressive to serve.

Rockefeller Oysters Ingredients

You can keep most of the ingredients on hand for oyster Rockefeller. Just pick up the oysters the day of or even the day before you plan to make them. The full quantities of the ingredients are listed on the recipe card.

• Shucked oysters
• Frozen creamed spinach: I use a 9-ounce package of Green Giant frozen creamed spinach. It has only a few ingredients and no preservatives.
• White wine: Use Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio
• Nutmeg
• Panko: Either plain or seasoned can be used in the recipe.
• Melted butter
• Parmesan cheese: Use either shredded or grated cheese.

Substitutions

• Whole oysters: Shuck your own oysters. Scroll to my easy step-by-step oyster shucking lesson below. If you want to skip the shucking, pick up already shucked oysters at well stocked seafood counters or order them online. And cleaned and ready to use oyster half shells or these super fun stainless steel oyster shells are available too.
• Frozen creamed spinach: Birdseye frozen creamed spinach or your favorite brand are also options. You can make your own creamed spinach if you've got a favorite recipe. Or use this steakhouse creamed spinach recipe.
• White wine: I use a dry white wine because I always have a bottle on hand. Many oysters Rockefeller recipes use Pernod or absinthe. They can be used as substitutes.
• Parmesan cheese: Substitutes include Pecorino Romano, Asiago, or Grano Padano.

How to Make Baked Oysters Rockefeller

I love that this recipe is so easy to make. It has only a few simple steps and is ready in about 20 minutes. Scroll to the recipe card for the complete instructions.

1. Step 1: Crumple a large sheet of foil and place in a rimmed baking sheet. Place the shucked oysters on top of the foil. I make sure the oysters lay flat so the briny liquid doesn't spill out.

1. Step 2: In a small bowl, combine creamed spinach, white wine, and nutmeg. Set aside.

1. Step 3: In a separate small bowl, combine the panko and melted butter. Set aside.

1. Step 4: Divide the spinach mixture between the oysters.

1. Step 5: Sprinkle the oysters with the panko mixture and the Parmesan cheese.

1. Step 6: Bake in a 450 degree F oven for 7 to 10 minutes. Serve hot right from the baking sheet or transfer to a plate filled with coarse salt.

Variations for Oysters Rockefeller

• Cheesy: Add fontina, mozzarella, or blue cheese.
• Smoky: Add cooked and chopped bacon or pancetta for a touch of smokiness.
• Spicy: Sprinkle with red pepper flakes or add a dash of hot sauce to the baked oysters.
• Seafood upgrade: Add a small peeled and deveined shrimp or lump of crab meat to the oysters just before baking.

expert tips for oysters Rockefeller

• Get to know your fishmonger. He can help you pick the freshest and best oysters for Rockefeller oysters.
• Keep the shucked oysters level. Oysters have a briny liquid called oyster liquor. Be sure to keep the shucked oysters and the baked oysters level so the delicious liquid doesn't spill out. Either bake the oysters in the baking sheet on a crumpled sheet of foil or on a bed of rock salt.

How Do You Shuck an Oyster?

Shucking oysters can be intimidating. But just follow these easy steps and you will be a pro in no time.

1. Purchase fresh oysters and give the shells a good rinse in cold water. This will remove any sand and loose shell pieces.
2. Grab a shucking knife and a dish towel. Place the towel on a work surface. Place an oyster flat side up on the towel. Fold the towel over half of the shell and place your hand on top of the towel. Or get a pair of oyster shucking gloves and skip the towel.
3. Place the tip of the knife into the hinge of the oyster at the narrow end where the 2 shells meet.
4. Twist the knife back and forth until it slides into the hinge. With a little force, pop the hinge.
5. Run the knife along the top inside of the flat shell to cut the muscle.
6. Remove the top shell.
7. Run the knife under the oyster to release it from the bottom shell.
8. Don't spill any of the delicious oyster juice also known as the liquor.

Now the shucked oysters are ready to use in this delicious baked oyster Rockefeller recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Choose oysters that are medium in size and brininess and have deep bottom cups. My first choice for oysters to use in recipe are Blue Point oysters. They're medium in size and brininess and perfect for baking. Also try Chesapeake Bay or Virginia oysters.

Oysters Rockefeller are fully cooked. Either baked or broiled on the half shell, the spinach topped oysters are cooked until hot and bubbly.

Yes! This is a great dish to prep ahead of time. Shuck the oysters and top with the cooled spinach mixture, cheese and panko. Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. Then just bake before serving.

Definitely! Follow the recipe below and chargrill the oysters for 7 to 10 minutes. I recommend still placing them on a rimmed baking sheet with crumpled foil to hold the oysters. It's difficult to keep all the delicious ingredients in the shells when they're placed directly on the grill grates.

A budget-friendly, quick to make, and inexpensive recipe for oysters Rockefeller is a "poor man's" version. It uses smoked oysters in a tin, parmesan cheese, spinach and panko. The ingredients are added to the tin with the oysters and baked in the oven and served on crackers.

What to Pair with Simple Oysters Rockefeller

Raw oysters on the half shell are meant to be slurped straight from the shell. But classic oysters Rockefeller with its rich and ample filling can be challenging to slurp from the shell. Serve the stuffed and baked oysters with cocktail forks and napkins.

Serve oysters Rockefeller with a crispy white wine like a Sauvignon Blanc, prosecco, or dry rose. These are a few of my favorites to serve alongside the baked oysters.

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• 5-Minute Dill Dip - Serve with wavy potato chips