Crab pasta

Name: Crab pasta
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 8 oz pasta (recommend wholewheat spaghetti/thin spaghetti or linguini); 8 oz crabmeat (or one large dressed crab - good quality fresh crab either way); 1 handful parsley (small); 1 clove garlic (or 2, depending on size (or more to taste - this isn't that strong)); 3 tbsp olive oil (approx); 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional, but recommended); 1/4 cup white wine (optional)

March 13, 2023 by Caroline's Cooking

Crab pasta is incredibly quick and easy, but also wonderfully fresh, delicately flavored and thoroughly delicious. A great quick meal.

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plate of crab pasta from side with fork at back of plate

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This simple seafood pasta is one that evolved from a visit to the local farmer's market when we lived in London. I have always loved crab, and as a child my dad would get dressed crab now and then. If you're unfamiliar, it basically combines all the edible parts of a crab, which may not all look the prettiest, but has lots of flavor.

Finding it again in the market prompted us to think how best to get the most out of all that tasty flavor, and the fishmonger suggested the outline of this pasta dish.

With little more than pasta, crab, garlic, olive oil and parsley, it's really quick and easy to make, but lets the crab itself shine.

part view of plate of crab pasta from overhead

Crab meat or dressed crab?

As mentioned, we originally made this with dressed crab from the farmer's market. This is probably still one of my favorite options as there is so much flavor in there, and the dressed crab also has that bit more "glue" to stick to the pasta.

However, this also works well with crab meat, too. You can use a mix of white and brown meat or just one or the other. I do recommend using good quality fresh crab, either from a fish market/monger or the chilled section of the grocery store.

While canned/tinned crab can work to a point, it just doesn't have the same flavor and here there's not much to 'hide' it. This is one where spending that bit more is worthwhile.

bowl of crab with spaghetti behind, garlic and parsley in front

Steps to make crab pasta

It is, as I say, incredibly quick to make, but here are a few tips on each step:

Set the pasta to cook - only cook the pasta al dente for this.
Cut up the parsley and garlic while it cooks.
Cook the garlic and red pepper flakes in the olive oil so that the garlic becomes aromatic - take care not to brown it. Use a wide skillet/frying pan so you have space to add the pasta a little later.
Optionally, add in some white wine - it won't fully mix but does add a nice flavor to the final dish.
Lift the pasta straight from the pot into the skillet. This means you get a little pasta water as well, which is fine. You can add a little more as well, if needed.
Gently toss the pasta in the garlic oil to coat. Then, add the crab and parsley and toss again to gently mix through.

Top tip: take care with the garlic

You want to cook the garlic to give a milder, gently sweet flavor that infuses the oil, but you need to take care, as it can easily burn. The trick is to use a medium-low heat, plenty olive oil and stop once you can smell the garlic becoming fragrant.

If it starts to brown, either take it off the heat or add the wine, if using. The wine helps reduce the temperature quickly (as well as adding a little flavor).

simmering garlic and red pepper in olive oil

It's super easy and ready in about 10 minutes flat. It's a very fresh-tasting dish with delicate flavors, that's perfect for this time of year. The red pepper flakes do add that little bit of heat/bite but as long as you don't put on too much, it doesn't take over and works really well.

What kind of pasta should you use?

I made this with spaghetti, but other pasta would work well too, particularly other "noodle" pastas like linguine or bucatini. This pasta is an authentic Italian pasta that we have enjoyed and I recommend (affiliate link, meaning we'd earn commission on any purchases, but we genuinely loved it!)

You could also make this with smaller pasta such as orecchiette or cavatelli that is a little shell-like and which would hold the crab a little as well.

Crab pasta is so easy and delicious, it's definitely one to add into your meal plan for a night when you don't have all that much time, but still want something tasty and homemade. It's definitely going to be something we have again soon.

Try these other easy pasta meals:

Scallop pasta with white wine and garlic
Pasta alla Norma (with eggplant and tomato)
Bacon sundried tomato pasta with spinach and cream
Plus get more 30 minute meals in the archives.

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4.29 from 7 votes

Crab pasta

This crab pasta is a ridiculously easy and tasty combination.

Prep Time2

Cook Time8

Total Time10

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: (or 4 smaller)

Calories: 311kcal

Author: Caroline's Cooking

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Ingredients

8 oz pasta recommend wholewheat spaghetti/thin spaghetti or linguini
8 oz crabmeat or one large dressed crab - good quality fresh crab either way
1 handful parsley small
1 clove garlic or 2, depending on size (or more to taste - this isn't that strong)
3 tablespoon olive oil approx
1 pinch red pepper flakes optional, but recommended
¼ cup white wine optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions but on the lower end time-wise - you want it to be al dente.
Meanwhile, remove the leaves from the parsley and roughly chop, and peel and finely dice the garlic.
Once pasta is a couple minutes away from being done, warm the olive oil in a wide skillet/frying pan over a medium-low heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook a minute or two until aromatic and softened, but not browning. If using wine, add and mix through, reducing heat as needed so it doesn't completely evaporate.
Lift the pasta from it's cooking pot with tongs straight into the skillet with the garlic oil and gently toss to coat the pasta with the oil. Add the parsley and crab and mix so that everything is well distributed through the pasta. Add a little more oil or some of the cooking water, if needed, to loosen it.

Video

Notes

This pasta is an authentic Italian pasta that we have enjoyed and I recommend (affiliate link, meaning we'd earn commission on any purchases, but we genuinely loved it!)

Nutrition

See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.

This post was first shared in May 2015 and has been updated, primarily with new photos and added video and with minor tweak to the recipe.

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This crab pasta is incredibly quick and easy, but also wonderfully fresh, delicately flavored and thoroughly delicious. A great quick meal, that feels that bit special, too.

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Crab meat or dressed crab?

Steps to make crab pasta

Top tip: take care with the garlic

What kind of pasta should you use?

Try these other easy pasta meals:

Crab pasta

Ingredients

Instructions

Video

Notes

Nutrition

Remember to pin for later!

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