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A hand holding a fork and showing close up some crab tossed in pasta with a lemon garlic zesty sauce

Crab Pasta

Out of all the crab recipes, this crab pasta would be our ultimate comfort food. It’s the perfect combo of a zesty lemony garlicky pasta with succulent crab legs. While you can use any crab meat for this recipe, we use fresh and cook them in the same skillet. The flavors are impeccable! Read more below and watch the video to make this delicious crab pasta in under 30 minutes!
Course Main Course, Main Dish, Pasta, Seafood
Cuisine Italian, Mediterranean
Keyword Crab, crab linguine, Crab pasta, Crab recipes, pasta recipes, seafood pasta, seafood recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 124 kcal
Author Mahy

Ingredients

Crab

  • 2 pounds crab legs defrosted
  • 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 cloves garlic minced

Pasta Sauce

  • 4 Tabelspoons butter divided into two parts
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1-3 lemon slices
  • 2 teaspoon thyme leaves
  • 2 cups pasta water or stock
  • 1/4 cup cream
  • 1 Tablespoon chives
  • 1/4 teaspoon chilli flakes optional

Instructions

  1. The first step to make the sauce is to remove the cooked crab form the skillet and use the same pan to make the sauce. This infuses the sauce with a rich deep crab flavor!
  2. So you’ll add in the butter, garlic, herbs and lemon slices. Cook that base of the sauce until fragrant.
  3. A hand holding a cup of pasta water and pouring it into the skillet to make the carb pasta sauce
  4. Add in the pasta water from the pot of cooking pasta. This will create a delicious starchy sauce for the linguine.
  5. If you want an EXTRA creamy and luscious sauce, this is when you’ll add in the cream. It’s best to use table creamy or heavy cream so 18% or 35%, and use small amount.
  6. cooked linguine is added to the sauce skillet and tossed well.
  7. Once the sauce bubbles, lower the heat to low and it will have thickened. Add in the cooked linguine right into the sauce in the skillet and toss it well with the sauce.
  8. A plate of the cooked crab pasta with the crab on top and more herbs, some lemon slices and chilli flakes
  9. At this point all you need to do is serve the pasta with the sauce and the cooked crab on top.
  10. Such an easy and delicious seafood pasta recipe!

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Crab Pasta Recipe Tips

  1. If you have leftover crabs, you can make this recipe starting at the sauce step. Read our tutorial on How To Cook Crab Legs if you haven’t made them at home yet.
  2. You can use store bought crab meat as well.
  3. If making the recipe as is, make sure you use a heavy duty skillet that can go in the oven.
  4. Using the same skillet creates a richer crab flavor to the sauce. 
  5. Watch out for the crabs in the oven, they don’t require much time. 
  6. When cooking the pasta, make sure to save the pasta water for the sauce. 
  7. The pasta water is starchy and creates a great sauce. 
  8. If you want an extra creamy and divine sauce, add some cream. Avoid using half n half because it may curdle with the lemon slices and lemon juice. 
  9. It’s best to use minimal cream than to use half n half. 
  10. If you like parmesan with the pasta, add it at the end along with the herbs. 
 

How Store Leftovers

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can reheat the dish in the microwave adding in 1-2 Tablespoons of cream, depending on your taste. We don’t recommend freezing any pasta with cream sauces as the texture will change. 

What to Serve with Crab Pasta?

Nutrition Facts
Crab Pasta
Amount Per Serving
Calories 124 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 8g50%
Trans Fat 0.3g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 34mg11%
Sodium 356mg15%
Potassium 85mg2%
Carbohydrates 5g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 551IU11%
Vitamin C 18mg22%
Calcium 42mg4%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.