This crab linguine is tossed with garlic and a fragrant white wine sauce. Use whole wheat or white linguine and sweet snow crab.
Seafood makes me feel like I’m truly bringing a fine dining experience into my home. And while shrimp and fish are good, I love crab legs. If you’ve ever been intimidated by preparing snow crab at home, fear not, it truly could not be easier. And this Crab Linguine in a White Wine Garlic Sauce will keep you coming back for more.
Ingredients
- Linguine: A thicker noodle that pairs well with seafood dishes.
- Garlic: Nutty, a little spicy, that naturally sweetens as it cooks and makes an excellent starter for any sauce.
- Chili Flakes: Brings a bit of heat and deepens the flavor of the wine and garlic sauce.
- Snow crab legs: Tender, chewy, and naturally salty, crab meat is one of my favorites.
- White wine: Mild, dry, and a great pairing with seafood. I like to use something like Sauvignon Blanc.
- Lemon juice: Bright, fresh acidity that rounds out the sauce and brings out the flavor of the crab.
How to Make Crab Linguine in a White Wine Garlic Sauce
Start your crab linguine by preparing your crab legs. Depending on how you bought them, cut them so they are separated and about 3-4 inches long.
The pasta cooks in a pot of salted, boiling water. Cook until al dente, reserve some of the water, then drain and set aside.
Next, in a large skillet, sauté your garlic and chili flakes in the olive oil until aromatic.
Then add your crab legs and sauté an additional minute before using your white wine to deglaze the pan. Cover, and lower the heat. Let the crab steam for a couple of minutes until warmed through.
Now stir the cooked linguine into the pan.
Add some fresh lemon juice to the sauce.
Season with some salt and pepper, then stir to incorporate everything.
Finish your dish with freshly grated parmigiano reggiano cheese.
And freshly chopped parsley.
Serve warm, and enjoy your home cooked Crab Linguine with White Wine Garlic Sauce!
Change It Up
- Change the protein. This dish would also be great with shrimp or scallops.
- No wine? No problem. If you don’t keep wine on hand or don’t drink, you can use chicken broth instead for the sauce.
- Make it gluten free. Swap out the linguine for your favorite gluten free pasta instead.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do you have to cook snow crabs?
No. Since snow crab legs are always sold precooked, you literally just have to cook them until they are warmed through, about 3-4 minutes tops. The sweet and briny crab pairs perfectly with the dry white wine and fragrant garlic in this show-stopping Crab Linguine with White Wine Sauce recipe.
What’s the difference between snow crab and king crab?
The main difference is that snow crabs are smaller, with thinner, longer legs. They also have a thinner shell, making them easier to cook and crack.
How do I store leftovers?
Kept in an airtight container, this pasta dish will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Did you try this pasta dish? The next time you make it, snap a picture and share it to your socials. Tag @thelemonbowl and #thelemonbowl so we can admire and share your meal.
More Seafood Recipes
- Lemon Garlic Tilapia Fish Packets
- Crispy Baked Fish Sticks with Tartar Sauce
- Lemon Butter Baked White Fish
- Sautéed Shrimp with Garlic and Chilies
- Lebanese Baked Fish with Tahini Sauce and Toasted Pine Nuts
If you’re a seafood lover like me, then don’t be afraid to cook more of it yourself at home. My Crab Linguine is a great place to start.
Your fork is waiting.
5 Step Crab Linguine in White Wine Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces whole wheat linguine (cooked according to package instructions reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid)
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (grated)
- 1 pinch chili flakes
- 1 pound precooked snow crab legs (cut into 3-4 inch pieces)
- ½ cup dry white wine or chicken broth (such as Sauvignon Blanc)
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
- minced parsley and parmigiano reggiano (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, deep skillet. Sauté garlic for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
- Add chili flakes and crab legs to the pan and sauté an additional minute. Pour white wine into the pan to deglaze.
- Increase heat to high and bring to a boil then cover with a lid to allow crab legs to steam and warm through about 2-3 minutes.
- Toss in pasta along with reserved cooking liquid and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve crab linguine in a large pasta bowl and garnish with minced parsley and Parmigiana Reggiano to taste.
I will be trying this for Christmas Eve. We always do the Italian Feast of Seven Fish and use blue crabs with a red sauce. We live on Fort Myers Beach where Ian did major damage and we are afraid to eat the local blue crabs so we decided to try this for a change. Will let you know how it comes out.
Easy enough to make but honestly it wasn’t very flavorful. Probably wouldn’t use it again unless I was in a crunch for time.
Sorry you didn’t find it flavorful enough! I’d recommend using more garlic and chili next time to see if it packs more of a punch for you.
We made this tonight. That was just a perfect meal. Thank you!
Followed the recipe as is (except I used regular linguine instead of whole wheat), and it was a HIT. Absolutely delicious and surprisingly easy. This is a crowd pleasure for sure! Great recipe for a special occasion, especially because it doesn’t require too much time or effort!
Oh I’m so glad you enjoyed it Robin!!!
Def a make again recipe! Had left over king crab and wanted to do a pasta with it. I sauteed’ some mushrooms first then followed the recipe. Added 1/4 block of cream cheese to the sauce. I used chicken broth cuz I didnt have any wine. Really good and will make again! Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed this Laurie!
Delicious!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Jesus, would you get to the freaking recipe already? I hate it when people have to tell their entire life story before getting to the recipe, especially when it’s a simplistic recipe that includes crab shells.
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We went to Seattle to visit my sister and got fresh crab there. Steamed them and put with this recipe. Let me tell you it was soooooooooo good! I’m not a seafood eater but this will defiantly be in our special recipe box FOREVER! Thank you so much!
Oh my gosh that sounds heavenly!! I hope you love it!
Just made this dish for dinner but instead of snow crab legs I used jumbo lump crab meat & regular linguine instead of whole wheat. Delicious. Next time I would probably cut back a little on the lemon juice & add more garlic but it was a light tasting, delicious dish. Will definitely be making again.
That sounds so good!! Love how you adapted it!!
Such a gorgeous dish! My husband would LOVE me so much if I made him this! :)
Mine went crazy for it!!
I haven’t had crab legs in so long…this looks wonderful!!!
I seriously want them again right now!
I haven’t had crab legs in so long, this looks sooooo delicious!! I love seafood and pasta together.
Seriously so good!
Seriously, this looks amazing! I’ve been craving crab and now I have to go get some.
haha yes you do!!
I love how easy crab is to cook. What a beautiful dish!
It’s a total show stopper!
Crab and carbs. These two things in one sentence are music to my ears! I can’t wait to devour this for dinner TONIGHT!
hahaha what’s better than crabs and carbs?
two of my kids fav foods right here! They’d inhale this in a second :)
I basically did just that – haha.
now this one sounds wonderful.
Thanks for sharing!
Enjoy Kat!
You know I want a big bowl of this!! Love the crab legs!!
I want to make this for you!! xo
Omg you gotta love crab! On Christmas Eve my family does the whole “seven fish” thing and we always have crab legs!! :)
YES!! My husband’s family does the Feast of the Seven Fishes as well!