Easy Michael Symon Crab Pasta Recipe: Fresh Flavor in Minutes

Michael Symon’s crab pasta brings coastal flavors right to your kitchen table with an elegant seafood twist.

Creamy textures and delicate ingredients dance together in this Mediterranean-inspired dish.

Seafood lovers appreciate the nuanced balance between tender crab and perfectly cooked pasta.

Skillful technique transforms simple components into a restaurant-quality experience that feels simultaneously sophisticated and approachable.

Professional chefs and home cooks can recreate this exceptional recipe with confidence.

Mediterranean ingredients offer a luxurious backdrop for the star protein, creating depth and complexity.

Weekend dinner plans just got significantly more exciting: gather your ingredients and prepare for a memorable meal.

What You’ll Need for Michael Symon’s Crab Pasta

• Dried Pasta: Serves as the base of the dish, choose a shape that holds sauce well like spaghetti or linguine.
• Fresh Lump Crab Meat: Provides delicate seafood flavor, best when fresh and high-quality.

• Garlic, Red Pepper Flakes, Parsley: Garlic adds depth, red pepper flakes bring heat, and parsley offers fresh herbaceous notes.

• Olive Oil: Creates the base for sautéing and adds rich flavor. White Wine: Adds acidity and complexity to the sauce, enhancing overall dish depth.

How to Make Michael Symon’s Crab Pasta

Step 1: Prepare Pasta

Cook pasta in boiling water 1-2 minutes less than package instructions for perfect al dente texture. Use standard pasta pot and follow standard cooking guidelines.

Step 2: Chop Fresh Herbs and Garlic

Finely chop 3-4 cloves of garlic and fresh parsley leaves using a sharp kitchen knife. Ensure pieces are small and uniform.

Step 3: Create Flavor Base

• Red pepper flakes
• Chopped garlic

Cook until garlic becomes fragrant and pepper flakes soften, approximately 1-2 minutes. Avoid browning garlic.

Step 4: Enhance Sauce

Pour white wine into skillet, adjusting heat to prevent complete evaporation. Allow wine to slightly reduce and create depth of flavor.

Step 5: Combine Pasta and Seafood

• Fresh crab meat
• Chopped parsley

Ensure even distribution of ingredients throughout pasta.

Step 6: Adjust Consistency

Check pasta’s moisture and flavor. If needed, add reserved pasta water or extra olive oil to achieve desired sauce texture. Serve immediately while hot.

Pro Tips for Michael Symon’s Crab Pasta

• Boost Freshness: Select just-caught crab for maximum flavor intensity, avoiding previously frozen options.
• Simplify Chopping: Rapidly mince garlic and parsley during pasta cooking to maximize kitchen efficiency.
• Control Texture: Pull pasta from boiling water one minute before package instructions to guarantee perfect al dente consistency.
• Elevate Oil Quality: Invest in extra virgin olive oil with robust, fruity notes that complement seafood's delicate taste.
• Balance Seasoning: Taste and adjust salt levels carefully, remembering crab and cheese contribute natural saltiness to the dish.

How to Store Michael Symon’s Crab Pasta

• Vacuum Sealing: Lock in freshness by using a vacuum sealer for your crab pasta. This method removes air completely, preventing freezer burn and maintaining the delicate seafood's texture. Seal portions individually for easy future meals.
• Mason Jar Layering: Create strategic storage by carefully layering pasta and crab in clean mason jars. Start with a thin sauce base, add pasta, then top with crab meat to prevent sogginess. Refrigerate and consume within 48 hours for optimal taste and quality.
• Portion Control Containers: Divide leftovers into single-serving, airtight containers with tight-sealing lids. Choose containers made from glass or high-quality BPA-free plastic to preserve flavor and prevent contamination. Label each container with the date to track freshness and avoid food waste.

Tasty Variations of Michael Symon’s Crab Pasta

• Ocean Breeze Seafood Pasta: Substitute crab with a mix of shrimp, scallops, and calamari for a rich seafood medley that brings Mediterranean coastal flavors to your plate.
• Zesty Lemon Herb Crab Pasta: Add fresh lemon zest and extra chopped herbs like basil and chives to elevate the brightness and complexity of the original recipe's flavor profile.
• Spicy Calabrian Crab Pasta: Swap red pepper flakes with spicy Calabrian chili paste and include a sprinkle of pecorino romano cheese for an authentic Italian kick that adds depth and heat.
• Creamy White Wine Crab Pasta: Incorporate a splash of heavy cream and increase the white wine quantity to create a silkier sauce that coats the pasta with luxurious, rich undertones.

A Decadent Bite with Michael Symon’s Crab Pasta

Culinary magic unfolds with Michael Symon’s crab pasta, where delicate seafood meets perfectly al dente noodles.

Rich flavors dance through each carefully crafted bite, revealing Mediterranean-inspired simplicity.

Garlic and red pepper flakes create a subtle warmth that elevates this dish beyond ordinary pasta preparations.

Without hesitation, share this recipe’s delightful secrets with friends, spark conversation in cooking circles, and let passion for incredible cuisine inspire your next culinary adventure.

Why Michael Symon’s Crab Pasta is the Ultimate Seafood Dish

• Savor Quick Coastal Comfort: Michael Symon's crab pasta delivers restaurant-quality seafood flavors in just 40 minutes, perfect for busy home cooks craving an elegant meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Master Delicate Flavor Balancing: The recipe expertly combines gentle heat from red pepper flakes, aromatic garlic, and sweet crab meat, creating a harmonious taste profile that dances across your palate with subtle sophistication.
• Embrace Professional Cooking Techniques: Using the al dente pasta method and directly transferring noodles into the infused oil ensures maximum flavor absorption, allowing home chefs to elevate their cooking skills with professional-grade techniques that guarantee a restaurant-worthy dish.
• Experience Minimal-Ingredient Magic: With just a handful of simple ingredients like pasta, crab, garlic, parsley, and red pepper flakes, this recipe proves that extraordinary meals can emerge from wonderfully uncomplicated culinary foundations.

Michael Symon Crab Pasta Recipe

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4.8 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 2 1x

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Description

Succulent crab takes center stage in Michael Symon’s signature pasta dish, blending Mediterranean herbs with delicate seafood. Creamy sauce and perfectly cooked pasta create a luxurious meal that transports you directly to coastal Italian kitchens.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 8 ounces (226 grams) pasta (recommended: whole wheat spaghetti, thin spaghetti, or linguini)
• 8 ounces (226 grams) crabmeat or 1 large dressed crab (good quality fresh crab)

Aromatics and Seasonings:

• 1 handful small parsley
• 1–2 cloves garlic (or more to taste)
• 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional, but recommended)

Liquids and Oils:

• 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) olive oil (approximately)
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) white wine (optional)

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Instructions

1. Prepare pasta in a pot of boiling salted water, reducing cooking time by 1-2 minutes to achieve an ideal al dente consistency, which ensures a slight firmness when bitten.
2. While pasta cooks, meticulously mince fresh garlic cloves and delicately chop parsley leaves into fine, uniform pieces.
3. Select a generously sized skillet and warm extra virgin olive oil over gentle medium-low heat, creating a fragrant cooking environment.
4. Sprinkle red pepper flakes into the warmed oil, immediately following with minced garlic. Sauté the aromatics carefully, allowing them to release their essence without scorching, which would create a bitter undertone.
5. Gently introduce white wine to the skillet, allowing it to simmer and partially reduce, creating a nuanced flavor foundation for the sauce.
6. Transfer partially cooked pasta directly from the boiling water into the skillet using tongs, ensuring some residual cooking water accompanies the pasta to help create a silky sauce.
7. Fold the crab meat and freshly chopped parsley into the pasta, ensuring even distribution of ingredients and flavors throughout the dish.
8. Adjust the sauce consistency by incorporating reserved pasta water or an additional drizzle of olive oil, creating a harmonious and glossy coating for the pasta.

Notes

• Master pasta timing by pulling it from boiling water 1-2 minutes before package instructions suggest for a perfectly tender bite.
• Chop fresh herbs and garlic simultaneously while pasta bubbles to maximize kitchen efficiency.
• Select premium, fresh crab meat – preferably whole dressed crab – to elevate the dish’s authentic seafood flavor profile.
• Invest in extra virgin olive oil with robust, fruity notes to amplify the recipe’s overall depth and richness.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2
• Calories: 465 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 325 mg
• Fat: 21 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Protein: 22 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg