Coastal Culinary Delight: Effortless Seafood Pasta in 30 Minutes

Easy Seafood Pasta

Introduction

There’s nothing quite like the combination of succulent seafood and perfectly cooked pasta to create a meal that’s both elegant and effortless. This Easy Seafood Pasta brings together shrimp, scallops, and your favorite shellfish in a simple, flavorful sauce that comes together in under 30 minutes. It’s the recipe of choice when you want an impressive dinner without hours in the kitchen—ideal for busy weeknights, special occasions, or whenever you crave a taste of the coast.

Deliciously Unique Easy Seafood Pasta

What makes this seafood pasta stand out is its harmony of flavors and textures: tender seafood, al dente pasta, a garlicky white wine sauce, and a scatter of fresh herbs. The dish never feels heavy and is endlessly customizable—swap in your favorite seafood or adjust the heat with a pinch of crushed red pepper. It’s a restaurant-quality meal that works beautifully for family feasts or intimate dinners alike.

Preparing the Perfect Seafood Mix

For a well-balanced bite, use a combination of shrimp, scallops, and mussels or clams. Pat your seafood dry with paper towels before cooking: this prevents excess moisture from diluting the sauce and ensures a lovely, seared flavor. Saute your seafood just until barely cooked through to maintain its delicate texture—overcooking will make it rubbery!

Creating a Luscious, Quick Sauce

The magic of this recipe lies in its sauce: Start with high-quality olive oil, then sauté garlic and a pinch of red pepper until fragrant. Add a splash of white wine and let it simmer briefly to cook off the alcohol. Finish the sauce with lemon juice, butter, and a sprinkle of parsley for brightness. Toss everything together with the pasta for a delicious, glossy finish.

Serving Suggestions for a Show-Stopping Easy Seafood Pasta

For a finishing touch, serve your seafood pasta with an extra sprinkle of fresh herbs and a wedge of lemon. Pair with a crisp green salad and some crusty bread to soak up the savory sauce. This dish shines as a centerpiece for dinner parties but is easy enough to enjoy as a weeknight staple.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 4 generous servings. Each serving contains approximately 400–450 calories, depending on the choice and amount of seafood used, making it a lighter yet satisfying meal option packed with protein and flavor.

Easy Seafood Pasta (Recap)

By marrying fresh seafood with pasta and a vibrant sauce, this recipe delivers a crowd-pleaser that’s bursting with flavor and coziness. It’s a must-try for anyone looking for a fast, delicious dinner with minimal fuss.

Ingredients

12 ounces linguine or spaghetti
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
8 ounces medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
8 ounces sea scallops, patted dry
8 ounces mussels or clams, scrubbed and debearded (optional)
1/2 cup dry white wine (or chicken broth)
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Salt and black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
Lemon wedges, for serving

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and streamlined meal planning.

CookifyAI meal planning interface

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine or spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Add shrimp and scallops to the skillet. Cook for 2–3 minutes, turning once, until just opaque. If using mussels or clams, add them now along with the wine. Cover and cook for 3–4 minutes, or until the shells open (discard any that don’t).
  4. Remove seafood with a slotted spoon and set aside to avoid overcooking. Simmer the wine in the pan for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
  5. Stir in lemon juice and butter. Add drained pasta and toss well, adding reserved pasta water as needed to create a silky sauce. Return seafood to the pan and gently toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
  6. Sprinkle fresh parsley over the top and serve immediately with extra lemon wedges.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Easy Seafood Pasta is ideal for meal planners—prep your shopping list and week’s menu in one seamless step. Save and schedule this recipe to plan which days to serve it and consolidate ingredients across all your meals for the week.

Planning Benefits:

– Calculates total ingredient amounts across your menu
– Organizes your shopping list by grocery section for super-easy trips
– Helps you avoid buying duplicates or missing a key item
– Makes weekly meal prep more efficient, less stressful, and minimizes food waste

Pro tip: When planning several meals, schedule recipes to see exactly how much seafood and fresh herbs you’ll need for the entire week—no more last-minute dashes to the store!

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

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