Crab pasta is incredibly quick and easy, but also wonderfully fresh, delicately flavored and thoroughly delicious. A great quick meal.
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It's no overstatement to say this is one of the simplest and quickest meals you can imagine. Plus better yet, it's also incredibly tasty. Today's Sunday Supper theme is 'five ingredients or less' and I could think of no more perfectly fitting a main dish as this delicious crab pasta.
Made simply of pasta, crabmeat, garlic, parsley, olive oil (or butter/ a combination) and optional red pepper flakes, it's simple and delicately flavored, but makes a great meal.
OK, I know that the red pepper knocks it into six ingredients, but it's kind of a condiment so don't know that it counts. For me, it's worth making an exception for the nice little kick it gives.
Crab meat or dressed crab?
We used to make this crab pasta when we lived in London and would get dressed crab from our local farmer's market. I do like making it with dressed crab rather than just the white crab meat if you can get it, as the brown meat has a lot of flavor that is really great in there as well.
Dressed crab also has that bit more 'glue' to stick to the pasta which works well, but either way is still really tasty. Here we used fresh crabmeat from our local fish market, but canned/tinned would also be fine.
How to make crab pasta
It is, as I say, incredibly quick to make.
- Set the pasta to cook;
- Cut up the parsley and garlic while you are waiting;
- Drain the pasta;
- Gently cook the garlic in the oil/butter (I use the pan the pasta was in since it's already warm);
- Mix everything together.
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.
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!)
I've said this recipe does 2-4 people as it will depend on your appetites - we seem to be gluttons compared to a lot of recipes I see and so we managed this between two of us. But I understand it would do three or four more normal people 🙂
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.
Remember to pin this for later.
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.
Crab pasta
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta 225g, recommend wholewheat spaghetti/thin spaghetti or linguini
- 8 oz crabmeat 225g, or one large dressed crab
- 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, or butter/a mixture
- a couple shakes of red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions - would recommend slightly al dente.
- Meanwhile, remove the leaves from the parsley and roughly chop, and peel and finely dice the garlic.
- Drain the pasta and dry the pan then add 2 tablespoon olive oil (or 1tbsp each of butter and oil) and cook the garlic for a minute until you can see it is softening but not browning.
- Remove pan from the heat and add back the pasta, add the parsley and crab and a bit more oil and mix everything so the garlic, crab and parley are well distributed through the pasta. Add a little more oil if needed to loosen it.
- Serve with a little red pepper flakes sprinkled on top (optionally).
Notes
Nutrition
See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.
See what else you can make with five or less ingredients:
Appetizers and Snacks
- Marinated Feta Tomato Skewers by Noshing with the Nolands
- Roasted Chili-Lime Peanuts by Casa de Crews
- Strawberry Coconut Soup with Mint by The Wimpy Vegetarian
Main Dish
- Grilled Portobello Mushrooms by Palatable Pastime
- Abruzzo Style Cannellini Beans with Fennel & Chicken by Delaware Girl Eats
- Salmon in Puff Pastry by Sew You Think You Can Cook
- Simple Grilled Tilapia by Cooking Chat
Side Dish
- Brazilian Black Beans by Curious Cuisiniere
- Mashed Cauliflower with Parmesan by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
- Sauerkraut and Apple Salad by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
- Sesame Lime Edamame by Magnolia Days
- Southern Style Squash Casserole by Recipe for Perfection
Desserts
- Chocolate Toffee Cookies by NinjaBaker.com
- Coconut White Chocolate Truffles by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Easy No Churn Peach Frozen Yogurt by Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen
- Magic Pudding Dessert by Grumpy's Honeybunch
- No-Churn Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cake by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Rhubarb Crumble by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Remember to pin for later!
Sgaron
Hardly ever offer a negative comment but this was so disappointing. No flavor whatsoever even after adding white wine , basil, tomato, almost anything I could think of. Will not make again. Don’t waste time IR CRABMEAT!!!
Caroline's Cooking
Sorry to hear that it wasn't too your taste - as you can hopefully tell from the ingredient list and post, the seasonings are pretty simple on purpose to allow the flavor of the crab to come through, which is a pretty delicate flavor. Though that does rely on having crab with a decent flavor or, as I suggest, dressed crab which is a bit stronger.
Sherri
Just finished a bowl of delishness! -- Used med shells pasta & lots of garlic. The crab coats the shells nicely! Thanks for an easy & quick recipe!!
Caroline's Cooking
Yes, I can imagine it works well with shells. Glad to hear you enjoyed!
Rachel
Hi Caroline, this recipe looks delicious but is the nutritional info calculated on the recipe serving 2, 3 or 4 people?
Thanks x
Caroline's Cooking
It's based on two (though as with all these are approximate). Hope you give it a try and enjoy!
Jim Harmon
Might be easier of you sautéed the garlic in a little butter and EVOO. Take it out of the pot and add water to boil the pasta. Follow recipe adding garlic when you add the crab. This amendment make the recipe a one pot.
Caroline's Cooking
Actually, the recipe is already one pot - you just have the pasta sitting in a colander for a minute while you warm the oil and garlic. You certainly could do it as you suggest, the main reason I do it as I say in the recipe is to then have that nice garlic-flavored oil both warm and work as a coating for the cooked pasta. If you do it before, the oil gets lost in the pasta water.
Em
I saute the garlic in a small saucepan. Is it much different washing a small saucepan than a bowl you would have to put the garlic in? And it's quicker to cook the garlic while the pasta is cooking. But of course if you only own one saucepan that would be the way to go
Caroline's Cooking
Yes, I can certainly see that sauteeing the garlic separately can work well, as much for flavor as anything, and it is just one small pan extra. The method described here is really more for ease and speed, while still being tasty.
Marlene Huschke
I use more garlic than recommended....maybe three cloves. I also use pasta water to make the dish more moist without having to add more oil. It’s very good.
Caroline's Cooking
Glad you enjoyed! Garlic is definitely something to adjust to taste, and yes pasta water is a good idea if you prefer more liquid, depending on how your crab is as well.
Ehisnigel
Thank Caroline for your crab pasta recipe. It was really helpful. I would have been lost without your recipe. Ehisnigel
Caroline's Cooking
So glad to hear you enjoyed!
Elsa
Caroline thank you for sharing your expertise in cooking i like your recipes.it's too yummy..especially the crab pasta .again thank you elsa
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, glad you enjoyed!
Brad
Just cooked this with fresh blue swimmer crabs I cought in Perth Western Australia (pealed) . It was so good. I will be doing this again. Thanking you for the great dish.
Caroline's Cooking
The fresh crab sounds wonderful, so glad you enjoyed.
Joanne
I’ve never made pasta with crab before but this was excellent. So simple with both olive oil and butter, less pasta and more Dungeness crab and used Aleppo pepper at the end.
Caroline's Cooking
So glad you enjoyed, and can absolutely see more crab being a good thing 🙂
Janet
This was really good! I did make it into a 7 ingredient recipe with the zest of a lemon and 2 tablespoons of capers. Also added some pasta water. We will definitely make this again.
Caroline's Cooking
So glad you enjoyed it Janet, and the additions sound great as well.
Sarah
Couldn't wait to see this one! I'd have to use fake crab (allergy) but dang would this be tasty!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, I think even with fake crab it would still be good.
Tara
Wow, that is a whole lot of deliciousness in so few ingredients!! Nicely done!!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Tara, it's certainly a tasty meal!
The Ninja Baker
Your crab pasta looks and sounds soooo delicious, Caroline. The touch of red pepper flakes is a great idea, too!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, the red pepper is really great in there.
Wendy
This recipe shows that simple can be indulgent! I love this simple pasta dish, and I'm thinking it would be great with shrimp too!!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Wendy. Yes shrimp would also be good, I just like how the crab blends through the pasta that bit more but both would be great.
Hezzi-D
Yum! My husband adores crab and pasta is a favorite of mine. This would be the perfect combination of our favorites.
Caroline's Cooking
How perfect! I hope you both like it!
Liz
I would feel very gluttonous with a plate of this crab pasta in front of me! YUM!
Caroline's Cooking
I can understand, Liz, but it didn't stop us eating huge platefuls!
Nichole
I love simple dinners like this! This looks so tasty!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Nichole. Sometimes simple dinners are just what's needed!