Whether you’re hosting a gathering or simply want to elevate your next family pasta night, there’s nothing quite like adding a bit of seafood to a dish to make it feel extra special. It’s an easy and (depending on the ingredients) relatively affordable way to dress up a meal while also getting some tasty protein. To that end, we’ve rounded up some of the most delicious seafood pasta recipes we could find.
Seafood is utterly delicious, as well as being a healthy way to fill up on healthy vitamins and minerals like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins D and B2, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, potassium, and more. In fact, the American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least two times a week as part of a healthy diet. If that isn’t a great excuse to indulge in some seafood pasta recipes, then we don’t know what is!
Has the craving hit yet? If it hasn’t, then these mouthwatering dishes will surely do the trick. It doesn’t matter if you’re obsessed with salmon or are partial to shellfish, we’ve got you covered with seafood pasta recipes that will work for any occasion.
Salmon
Seared Salmon Spaghetti With Arugula and Walnut Pesto from Spoon Fork Bacon
Why we love it: This simple recipe can be easily whipped up midweek for a scrumptious, quick, and nutritious meal. The salmon is perfectly seared and adds gorgeous texture and flavor to this pasta dish. Tomatoes add brightness while the homemade pesto grounds the dish with a lovely earthiness.
Hero ingredient: The addition of spiralized zucchini makes it an even healthier way to enjoy this delicious pasta dish.
Garlic Butter Salmon Pasta from Salt and Lavender
Why we love it: It doesn’t get much easier than this dish. It’s perfect for a busy weeknight meal, only requires a few ingredients, and tastes divine. It’s perfectly buttery, with lemon juice adding a bit of freshness. Ideal!
Hero ingredient: Chicken broth adds a delicious savory flavor to the dish.
Creamy Salmon Pasta With Spinach from Foxes Love Lemons
Why we love it: Show off your cooking skills with this gorgeous recipe that looks much more complicated than it actually is to make. It’s a creamy, decadent, and absolutely sumptuous dish that’s perfect for date night, dinner parties, and more. Don’t be intimidated by the homemade cream sauce, it’s easier than it looks.
Hero ingredient: Lemon zest cuts through the heavy cream and brightens up the entire meal.
Lobster
Brown Butter Lobster, Bacon + Crispy Kale and Fontina Pasta from Half Baked Harvest
Why we love it: Did you know September is lobster season? It’s almost here! Stick with lobster tails if you aren’t into the idea of cooking a whole lobster so you can still get that delicious, luscious flavor without having to do the extra labor. This pasta is an absolute dream, from the taste to the textures and color.
Hero ingredient: Top it off with fresh basil and a large smattering of brown butter for an otherworldly experience.
Lobster Corn and Tarragon Caramelle from Spoon Fork Bacon
Why we love it: This is a dish meant to impress. Making pasta from scratch is fairly labor-intensive, but it’s always worth it. The filling (consisting of mascarpone, lobster, butter sautéed corn, and fresh tarragon) is relatively simple and features an incredible flavor combination. It’s bold, robust, and addicting. Yum.
Hero ingredient: Ricotta and mascarpone for the win, always.
Lobster Mac and Cheese from Foodie Crush
Why we love it: Despite being restaurant-quality, this mac and cheese recipe comes together in under an hour, so you can enjoy it during the week when you’re looking to indulge a little. It’s luxury comfort food for when you’re really feeling fancy. Few things are as decadent, or as delicious, as pairing lobster and a creamy cheese sauce, and this seafood pasta recipe is absolute perfection.
Hero ingredient: Fresh breadcrumbs add a delicious crunch.
Crab
Crab Spaghetti With Lemon Gremolata from Foodie Crush
Why we love it: It’s a high brow twist on your everyday lemon spaghetti. What could be better than twirling pasta around big clumps of luscious crab? Well, it’s time to crack open some crabs, because this dish is incredibly easy to whip together. All you need is 30 minutes and a good appetite to enjoy this deceptively simple dinner.
Hero ingredient: Red pepper flakes add a touch of heat to the lush and flavorful spaghetti noodles.
Clams
Buttery Mushroom and Clam Pasta from Half Baked Harvest
Why we love it: This delicious seafood dinner comes together in just 30 minutes, so you don’t have to wait until the weekend to enjoy this bowl of summery carbs. If you love clams, this is the dish for you. Bucatini pasta is tossed in buttery mushrooms, fresh clams, sweet corn, and herbs. Doesn’t get much better than that.
Hero ingredient: If you can find some bucatini then stock up it like it’s the end of the world.
Linguine con Vongole from Foodie Crush
Why we love it: Elevate your dinner with this ultra-chic dish that happens to be one of the easiest and most affordable Italian seafood pasta recipes you can make. The sauce is a breeze to cook, and is pretty much the perfect starter for someone who is just getting their sea legs in the kitchen. Did we mention it’s wildly delicious?
Hero ingredient: Use a dry white wine for the sauce like a sauvignon blanc or a trebbiano, just make sure it’s good enough to drink.
Shrimp
Shrimp Scampi from Alison Roman
Why we love it: It’s a gorgeous take on a traditional shrimp scampi that takes enough liberties to feel fresh and updated while still honoring the core flavors and true spirit of the shrimp scampi. It’s herby, fishy, garlicky, lemony, and a true love letter to both shrimp and pasta.
Hero ingredient: Fish sauce is the secret (and hero) ingredient in this recipe.
Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti
Why we love it: This particular recipe is perfect for summer entertaining—it’s light but so satisfying, and feels a little bit elevated even though it comes together in 20 minutes. According to Camille, it’s one of those “set it in the middle of the table and watch your friends dive in” kind of dinners, served family-style with a good bottle of crisp white wine. It’s absolutely divine.
Hero ingredient: Don’t be afraid to be liberal with the fresh parm!
Cajun Shrimp Pasta from Spoon Fork Bacon
Why we love it: Just look at those gorgeous golden shrimp! Jam-packed with flavor, this delicious recipe is made with perfectly cooked cajun spice marinated shrimp, spaghetti, sweet sautéed bell peppers, and a rich cream sauce with a bit of spice. It’s a simple recipe that is just bursting with flavor and can easily be amended to include chicken, veggies, and more.
Hero ingredient: The cajun seasoning and cream sauce are next-level good.
Scallops
Browned Butter Scallops and Burst Tomato Basil Pasta from Half Baked Harvest
Why we love it: It’s a light dish that is also indulgent, satisfying, and generally delicious. This recipe takes all the best elements of summer ingredients and brings them together to create a delectable, quick, easy, and mouth-watering dish. Easy enough for a weeknight but tastes like a party thanks to the confluence of delicious ingredients.
Hero ingredient: Creamy burrata tops this decadent meal.
Seared Scallop Ravioli With Lemon Rosemary Butter Sauce from Half Baked Harvest
Why we love it: This is an incredible ravioli recipe that feels especially festive. Even the most avid of cheese ravioli lovers will be coming back for seconds of this beautiful dish. Pasta, cheese, seared scallops, and butter? Now we’re talking. It’s the perfect flavor combination.
Hero ingredient: Pre-made wonton wrappers make this even simpler to make.
Assorted Seafood
Pasta Frutti di Mari
Why we love it: If you’ve been trying to come up with a signature dish, then you might want to give this beauty and whirl. Mussels, clams, squid, and shrimp make for a seafood pasta dream team. It’s deceptively simple and utterly delicious. You’ll feel like you’re on the Amalfi coast.
Hero ingredient: Don’t be afraid to bring the heat with some red pepper flakes.
Seafood Spaghetti With Mussels and Shrimp from Bon Appétit
Why we love it: It’s an old-school recipe with a modern twist that couldn’t be more flavorful. Just looking at it puts us in a good mood. If you’ve been looking for a red sauce seafood pasta recipe, then look no further than this stunning offering from Bon Appétit.
Hero ingredient: Go wild with the lemon juice!
Seafood Fideua from Spoon Fork Bacon
Why we love it: Think of it as paella, but with a short pasta called fideua instead of rice. It’s a great alternative to typical seafood pasta dishes that’s perfect for a crowd and couldn’t be easier to make. Paella and pasta lovers alike, take note.
Hero ingredient: Pork longaniza can be subbed with chorizo in a pinch, but either way, it’s a show-stealer.
