Crab Pasta

a close up image of a plate of spaghetti with crab, chopped parsley and red peppers

5 from 4 votes

Enjoy a burst of flavors with this quick and easy Crab Pasta. Infused with sweet crab, spicy Piquante Peppers, fragrant garlic, and zesty lemon, it's a delightful meal perfect for any occasion.

Course Dinner

Cuisine Italian

Keyword crab pasta, crab pasta recipes, spaghetti with crab

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Servings

Calories 551

Author Erren Hart

Ingredients

8 oz pasta specify type
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup dry white wine
4 large garlic cloves minced
6 Piquante peppers or roasted red peppers
1 ½ pounds cooked crab meat
salt to taste
fresh ground pepper to taste
4 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 tablespoons lemon juice plus lemon wedges for serving
2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Start by boiling a pot of salted water. Add the pasta and cook until slightly underdone. Before draining, reserve a half cup of pasta water. Set the pasta aside.
Next, heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant and just beginning to brown at the edges, which should take around 30 seconds to a minute. Add the wine and peppers, increase heat to high, and bring to a simmer.
Reduce the heat to medium, add the crab, and cook, stirring occasionally, to warm it through. Season with salt and pepper, add the butter and parsley, stirring until combined.
Transfer the pasta into the sauce, allowing it to simmer gently and finish cooking in the flavorful mix. If needed, add small amounts of the reserved pasta water if the pasta starts to dry out. Stir in the lemon juice, taste for seasoning, and add more salt if needed.
Serve your delicious crab pasta with lemon wedges on the side for extra zing. Enjoy your meal!

Notes

Preparation: Gather and prep all ingredients before starting.
Pasta Cooking: Cook pasta until slightly 'al dente' - it will finish cooking in sauce.
Garlic Slicing: Slice garlic thinly for even flavor and to prevent burning.
Crab Handling: Check fresh crab for shells, ensure frozen crab is fully thawed.
Sauce Timing: Let sauce cook patiently to meld flavors together.
Pasta Water: Reserve some starchy pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.
Final Cooking Stage: Stir gently when pasta is in sauce to maintain crab meat texture.
Tasting: Taste and adjust seasoning as per individual preference.
Pepper Substitutions: Use jarred Piquante, roasted red peppers, red pepper flakes or chopped red chili as per availability and heat preference.

Nutrition