Description
Creamy and luxurious Crab Fettuccine Alfredo featuring tender lump crab meat tossed in a rich Parmesan cream sauce served over perfectly cooked fettuccine pasta. This Italian American dish is a decadent seafood main course, easy to prepare on the stovetop and perfect for a special dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces fettuccine pasta
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
Seafood and Garnish
- 8 ounces lump crab meat, picked over for shells
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
- Additional Parmesan for serving
Instructions
- Cook the fettuccine: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the fettuccine according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta thoroughly.
- Prepare the sauce base: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Make the cream sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and bring it to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently to combine flavors and prevent scorching. Reduce the heat to low and gradually stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Season the sauce: Add salt, black pepper, and nutmeg if using, stir well to incorporate all the seasonings evenly into the sauce.
- Incorporate the crab: Gently fold in the lump crab meat into the sauce and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, warming the crab through without breaking it apart to maintain texture.
- Toss pasta with sauce: Add the cooked fettuccine directly to the skillet and toss to coat the pasta thoroughly with the creamy sauce. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce and achieve the desired consistency.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from heat and garnish with fresh chopped parsley and extra Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use high-quality lump or jumbo lump crab meat for the best flavor and texture.
- Avoid boiling the sauce after adding Parmesan cheese to prevent it from separating.
- This dish pairs beautifully with a light green salad or warm garlic bread.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian American
