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    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    July 12, 2018

    Garlic Butter Crab Pasta

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Garlic Butter Crab Pasta made quick and easy with sauteed garlic in butter tossed with flaked canned crab and mixed with angel hair pasta is perfect for dinner.

    Photo of Garlic Butter Crab Pasta on a white plate with the title written at the bottom

     

    I have a bad habit of going to the grocery store and picking up random cans of things that I think I might want to use someday. Some of them I have used over and over again and know what to do with them, but I had no idea what to make with canned crab. I usually use fresh crab meat in recipes, and I wasn't sure it would be the same.

    A few weeks ago I saw a crab and angel hair pasta recipe on Pinterest and was reminded of it the next time my daughter asked for pasta for dinner, so I decided to try a canned crab pasta recipe.

    Photo of Garlic Butter Crab Pasta in a stainless steel pot

     

    Use canned crab labeled "white crab meat" in this Garlic Butter Crab Pasta. The ones labeled "pink crab meat" are crab claw meat, and have a lot of tiny shell pieces that are impossible to pick out. The butter absorbs into the pasta pretty quickly, if you want more of a buttery crab pasta melt additional butter to mix into the pasta when serving.

    You can follow the crab meat pasta sauce recipe and use whatever kind of pasta you like.

    Garlic Butter Crab Pasta 

    Close up photo of Garlic Butter Crab Pasta on a white plate with flower trim

    Looking for more recipes with different kinds of pasta for dinner? Try these:

    Easy Italian Sausage Lasagna

    Skillet Meaty Shells and Cheese 

    Pumpkin Ravioli with Parmesan Sage Cream Sauce

    American Pierogi Casserole 

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    Photo of Garlic Butter Crab Pasta on a white plate with the title written at the bottom
    Print Recipe
    3.71 from 58 votes

    Garlic Butter Crab Pasta

    This Garlic Butter Crab Pasta made quick and easy with sauteed garlic in butter tossed with flaked canned crab and mixed with angel hair pasta is perfect for dinner.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time3 minutes mins
    Total Time13 minutes mins
    Course: MAIN COURSES/ENTRÉES
    Cuisine: Italian American
    Keyword: crab and angel hair pasta recipe, easy crab pasta
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 365kcal
    Author: Bernadette

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup butter
    • 4 large cloves garlic, minced
    • 18 ounces canned white crab meat (reserve liquid from the cans to add to the pasta)
    • 1 teaspoon chopped parsley
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • pinch red pepper flakes
    • 1 pound angel hair pasta, cooked in salted boiling water for the time indicated on the box

    Instructions

    • Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, add salt to keep the pasta from sticking.  Cook the pasta for the time indicated on the package, then drain and return to the pot. 
    • As soon as the pasta goes into the pot, melt the butter in a saute pan over medium high heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring often, for two minutes or until the garlic is soften, being careful not to let it burn. Add the reserved juices from the cans and turn off the heat. Stir in the crab meat, parsley,,salt, and red pepper flakes. 
    • Stir the garlic butter crab mixture into the pasta and serve immediately with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 365kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 502mg | Potassium: 291mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 355IU | Vitamin C: 2.2mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 1.1mg
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    Comments

    1. Jennine says

      September 11, 2021 at 1:48 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! I used kerrygold butter (a little less than the recipe called for), skipped the red pepper, and topped with grated Parmesan… yummy! Thanks ?

      Reply
    2. Cheryl says

      February 02, 2021 at 9:00 pm

      I made this recipe and it was absolutely delicious. Next time I will use crab legs instead of canned. Only thing I would change. I will make this again.

      Reply
    3. Gretchen says

      October 15, 2020 at 8:37 am

      5 stars
      This was the best quick and simple weeknight recipe I've tried in a while. I ended up using frozen crab meat instead of canned (had just ordered way too much from this place: https://qualityseafooddelivery.com/crab/) and it was truly an amazing meal. Can't wait to make it again.

      Reply
    4. mferoli says

      July 20, 2020 at 7:45 pm

      4 stars
      Quick, easy and delish! Jumbo lump crab and since I’m from Maryland, I had to toss in a couple tsps of Old Bay!

      Reply
    5. Michael Desmond says

      June 23, 2020 at 7:06 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks I have real crab legs, and spaghetti and was looking for a good recipe and found it here. Simple fast and delicious/ HMMM HMM.... going be good, thanks again

      Reply
    6. Heinz Schirmaier says

      July 12, 2018 at 5:49 pm

      I'm a single guy so I downsized. Also did not have crab meat, but a can of albacore tuna and subbed that! Turned out delish. I'll try crab next time. I'm sure it will be even better!
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Bernadette says

        July 16, 2018 at 9:31 am

        Glad you liked it!

        Reply
      • Mema says

        January 17, 2023 at 3:28 pm

        Tuna?? UGH... lol

        Reply
    3.71 from 58 votes (54 ratings without comment)

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