Description
Crab Pasta Bake delivers pure comfort straight from your kitchen, blending rich seafood with creamy pasta in a simple, satisfying meal that feels like a warm hug. Weeknight dinners become extraordinary when this delicious dish comes together with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 oz pasta
- 12 oz crab meat
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Dairy and Creamy Components:
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Extras:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Salt
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 350°F (175°C). Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Boil 12 oz of pasta in salted water for 8-9 minutes until just tender. Drain completely and set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet. Sauté 2 minced garlic cloves for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Whisk 8 oz softened cream cheese, 1 cup sour cream, and ½ cup milk until completely smooth.
- Stir the sautéed garlic into your cream mixture. Add 1 ½ cups mozzarella, ½ cup Parmesan, ½ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and salt.
- Fold 12 oz crab meat gently into your creamy sauce, being careful not to break the meat.
- Mix the crab sauce with your cooked pasta until every piece is evenly coated.
- Transfer the pasta mixture into your prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly.
- Sprinkle an extra ½ cup mozzarella and a light dusting of paprika across the top.
- Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted and edges are golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Optional: Garnish with 1 tablespoon chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
- Check pasta doneness carefully to keep it perfectly al dente, which prevents mushiness in the final baked dish.
- Fresh crab meat works best, but good-quality canned or packaged crab can be substituted without losing flavor.
- For a lighter version, swap full-fat dairy with low-fat cream cheese and sour cream, which maintains the creamy texture.
- Gluten-free pasta and breadcrumb alternatives make this recipe easily adaptable for those with wheat sensitivities.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 444 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 567 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 74 mg