This luxurious yet easy pasta dish combines succulent shrimp, sweet crab meat, and a velvety garlic-white wine sauce for a special occasion meal that feels like dining at a seaside bistro!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe ❤️
✅ Fancy enough for date night but simple enough for weeknights
✅ Briny-sweet seafood in every forkful
✅ Creamy (but not heavy!) sauce with a touch of lemon
✅ 30-minute meal from start to finish
Ingredients You’ll Need 🛒
(Serves 4)
For the Pasta:
12 oz linguine or fettuccine
1 lb large shrimp, peeled & deveined
8 oz lump crab meat (fresh, canned, or imitation)
3 tbsp butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
½ cup dry white wine *(or sub seafood stock + 1 tbsp lemon juice)*
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp lemon zest
¼ cup chopped parsley
Salt & pepper to taste
Optional Garnishes:
Extra Parmesan
Lemon wedges
Fresh basil
Step-by-Step Instructions 👩🍳
1. Cook the Pasta
Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
2. Sauté the Seafood
In a large skillet, melt 1 tbsp butter over medium heat.
Add shrimp, seasoning with salt/pepper. Cook 2 mins per side until pink. Remove and set aside.
In same skillet, melt remaining butter. Add garlic & red pepper flakes, sautéing 30 secs until fragrant.
3. Make the Sauce
Pour in white wine, scraping up browned bits. Simmer 2 mins to reduce by half.
Stir in cream, Parmesan, lemon zest, and crab. Simmer 3-4 mins until slightly thickened.
4. Combine & Serve
Toss in cooked pasta and shrimp, adding reserved pasta water as needed.
Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
Pro Tips for the Best Seafood Pasta 💡
🍷 Wine choice: Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio work perfectly.
🔥 Avoid rubbery shrimp: Don’t overcook—they finish heating in the sauce.
🦀 Premium upgrade: Use jumbo lump crab for extra sweetness.
🌶 Spice lovers: Double the red pepper flakes.
Serving Suggestions 🍽️
With: Garlic bread & a crisp green salad
Pairing: The same white wine used in cooking
For romance: Light candles and pretend you’re in Italy!
Final Thoughts ✨
This creamy seafood pasta is decadent without being fussy—the kind of dish that makes an ordinary night feel like a celebration. Warning: You might start planning a coastal vacation after eating it! 😉