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Quick and Creamy Cajun Crab Pasta

Close-up of creamy, orange-sauced crab pasta topped with generous flakes of white crab meat and fresh chopped parsley.
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Make this restaurant-style crab pasta at home quickly. This recipe features tender crab meat in a rich, creamy sauce with bold Cajun seasoning, perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound linguine or fettuccine pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound lump crab meat, picked over for shells
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (adjust to your taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining.
  2. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
  3. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown.
  4. Add the Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir for 30 seconds.
  5. Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to low.
  6. Stir in the Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth.
  7. Gently fold in the lump crab meat, being careful not to break up the pieces too much. Heat through for 1-2 minutes.
  8. Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat everything evenly.
  9. If the sauce seems too thick, add the reserved pasta water, one splash at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
  10. Stir in the lemon zest and most of the fresh parsley.
  11. Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining fresh parsley.

Notes

  • For a spicier dish, add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the Cajun seasoning.
  • If you cannot find lump crab meat, use high-quality imitation crab meat, but add it in the last minute of cooking to prevent it from becoming tough.
  • This dish is excellent served with crusty bread to soak up the extra sauce.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://mistyplate.com/quick-creamy-cajun-crab-pasta/