Crab pasta is incredibly quick and easy, but also wonderfully fresh, delicately flavored and thoroughly delicious. A great quick meal.
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’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.
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 tbsp 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 tbsp 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).
Nutrition
Try these other easy pasta dishes:
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- scallop pasta with garlic and white wine
-
- creamy bacon sauce with spinach (for pasta/gnocchi)
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- pasta alla Norma
See what else you can make with five or less ingredients:
Drinks
- 2 Ingredient Orange Juice Frosty Drink by The Educators’ Spin On It
- Five Ingredient Sangria by Our Good Life
- Pina Colada Summer Smoothie by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
Appetizers and Snacks
- 5-Ingredient Creamy Avocado Dressing by Take A Bite Out of Boca
- Crescent Jalapeno Poppers by The Weekend Gourmet
- Crockpot Chicken Chili Dip by The Crumby Cupcake
- Grilled Zucchini and Goat Cheese Roll Ups by Food Done Light
- 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
- Baked Fajita Chicken by Recipes Food and Cooking
- Crab Pasta by Caroline’s Cooking (you’re here!)
- Grilled Portobello Mushrooms by Palatable Pastime
- Healthy Chocolate Protein Pancakes by Momma’s Meals
- Homemade Porcini Almond Pasta by The Joyful Foodie
- Abruzzo Style Cannellini Beans with Fennel & Chicken by Delaware Girl Eats
- Salmon in Puff Pastry by Sew You Think You Can Cook
- Simple Brined Roast Chicken with Herbs and Garlic by Crazy Foodie Stunts
- Simple Grilled Tilapia by Cooking Chat
- Simple Summer Shrimp and Asparagus by eating in instead
- Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken by Nosh My Way
- Slowcooker Ravioli Lasagne by Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
Side Dish
- Brazilian Black Beans by Curious Cuisiniere
- Korean Seasoned Dried Squid (Ojingeochae muchim) by kimchi MOM
- 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
- Tomato, Avocado and Bacon Salad by Peanut Butter and Peppers
Desserts
- Apple Drop Candy by What Smells So Good?
- 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
- Fluffernutter Cookies by Pies and Plots
- 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!
Renee says
May 31, 2015 at 6:49 amAll I have to see is crab and I’m all in!
Caroline's Cooking says
May 31, 2015 at 2:31 pmI know what you mean, Renee, I’m similar and this is a tasty way to have it!
Nichole says
May 31, 2015 at 7:10 amI love simple dinners like this! This looks so tasty!
Caroline's Cooking says
May 31, 2015 at 2:31 pmThanks, Nichole. Sometimes simple dinners are just what’s needed!
Liz says
May 31, 2015 at 10:57 amI would feel very gluttonous with a plate of this crab pasta in front of me! YUM!
Caroline's Cooking says
May 31, 2015 at 2:32 pmI can understand, Liz, but it didn’t stop us eating huge platefuls!
Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm says
May 31, 2015 at 1:10 pmI knew the minute I saw this recipe that it was going to be a winner!
Caroline's Cooking says
May 31, 2015 at 2:32 pmThanks, Wendy, it is so simple but tasty!
Hezzi-D says
May 31, 2015 at 1:15 pmYum! My husband adores crab and pasta is a favorite of mine. This would be the perfect combination of our favorites.
Caroline's Cooking says
May 31, 2015 at 2:33 pmHow perfect! I hope you both like it!
Wendy (The Weekend Gourmet) says
May 31, 2015 at 3:31 pmThis 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 says
May 31, 2015 at 4:14 pmThanks, 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.
The Ninja Baker says
May 31, 2015 at 11:13 pmYour crab pasta looks and sounds soooo delicious, Caroline. The touch of red pepper flakes is a great idea, too!
Caroline's Cooking says
June 2, 2015 at 3:31 pmThanks, the red pepper is really great in there.
Tara says
June 1, 2015 at 11:55 amWow, that is a whole lot of deliciousness in so few ingredients!! Nicely done!!
Caroline's Cooking says
June 2, 2015 at 3:32 pmThanks, Tara, it’s certainly a tasty meal!
Lauren @ Sew You Think You Can Cook says
June 2, 2015 at 1:52 pmI won’t say no to pasta!
Caroline's Cooking says
June 2, 2015 at 3:39 pmPasta is always good, I agree Lauren, and this is a tasty version!
Cindys Recipes and Writings says
June 3, 2015 at 1:06 pmCrab and pasta sounds like my kind of dinner!
Caroline's Cooking says
June 6, 2015 at 4:13 pmThanks Cindy, it’s so simple but tasty!
Sarah says
June 4, 2015 at 4:30 pmCouldn’t wait to see this one! I’d have to use fake crab (allergy) but dang would this be tasty!
Caroline's Cooking says
June 6, 2015 at 4:14 pmThanks, I think even with fake crab it would still be good.
Janet says
January 20, 2018 at 2:15 pmThis 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 says
January 21, 2018 at 8:57 pmSo glad you enjoyed it Janet, and the additions sound great as well.
Joanne says
August 28, 2018 at 9:29 pmI’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 says
August 28, 2018 at 9:54 pmSo glad you enjoyed, and can absolutely see more crab being a good thing 🙂
Brad says
February 1, 2019 at 7:05 amJust 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 says
February 1, 2019 at 9:56 amThe fresh crab sounds wonderful, so glad you enjoyed.
Elsa says
March 13, 2019 at 12:30 pmCaroline 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 says
March 15, 2019 at 8:47 pmThanks, glad you enjoyed!