This creamy seafood pasta is an impressive yet easy-to-make main course you can enjoy any night of the week. Tender pasta is combined with a tasty seafood mix and a rich, creamy sauce. This dish is sure to satisfy any seafood lover in your life, and it's ready to serve in under 30 minutes!
I like to serve this with a few side dishes like my crispy oven garlic bread and a Caesar salad. For more easy and tasty side dish ideas, check out my collection of pasta side dishes.
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Creamy seafood pasta is a simple and delicious main course that combines a frozen package of seafood with penne pasta and a rich, creamy sauce. It's ready to serve in less than 30 minutes, so this recipe is easy enough for any weeknight meal.
Top it all with some freshly grated Parmesan cheese and dried dill to create a visually stunning and impressive pasta dish. If you have seafood lovers in your family, then this recipe is sure to become a new favorite!
🥘 Ingredients
You can use any of your favorite frozen combinations of seafood for this dish (make sure to thaw it overnight). I used penne pasta, but any of your favorite types of pasta would work too.
- Pasta - 12 ounces of penne pasta or your preferred pasta.
- Seafood Mix - 1 pound of frozen seafood mix (thawed).
- Olive Oil - 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.
- Butter - 2 tablespoons of butter or use a butter substitute.
- Shallots - 2 thinly sliced shallots or use a shallots substitute.
- Garlic - 1 teaspoon of minced garlic.
- Heavy Cream - 2 cups of heavy cream or use a heavy cream substitute.
- Salt & Pepper - ¼ teaspoon of both salt & pepper.
- Paprika - ¼ teaspoon of paprika or use a paprika substitute.
- Parmesan Cheese - ¼ cup of grated Parmesan cheese.
- Dried Dill - 1 pinch of dried dill or 1 tablespoon of fresh dill or parsley for garnish.
Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!
🔪 How To Make Creamy Seafood Pasta
Everyone will love how rich and creamy this dish is, and you'll appreciate how quick and simple it is to make. Take out a large skillet, silicone kitchen tongs, a colander, and measuring cups to get started.
This tasty pasta recipe will make approximately 6 filling servings. There's plenty for a large family, especially if you make a few sides to go with.
- Cook pasta. Follow the directions on your pasta box and cook 12 ounces of penne pasta to about 1-2 minutes shy of al dente. Then reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and set aside. Drain the rest and run the pasta under cool water.
- Cook seafood. 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a large frying pan and heat over medium heat. Once the oil starts to shimmer, add 1 pound of frozen seafood mix and cook for about 3-4 minutes or until the seafood mix is no longer translucent. Set aside.
- Saute. Carefully wipe the skillet clean with paper towels, then add 2 tablespoons of butter and heat until it melts. Add thinly sliced 2 shallots and 1 teaspoon of minced garlic to the pan. Saute for about 2 minutes or until they become fragrant.
- Add ingredients. Add 2 cups of heavy cream to the pan, then add the seasonings (¼ teaspoon of each, salt & pepper, and ¼ teaspoon of paprika). Turn up the heat from medium-high to high and bring the sauce to a boil.
- Add pasta. As it starts to boil, add the cooked pasta to the frying pan and cook until the pasta absorbs the majority of the liquid. Stir occasionally. If you prefer a thinner sauce, add some of the pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
- Add seafood. Add in the cooked seafood mix and combine with the pasta and sauce. Take the pan off of the heat. Top the dish with ¼ cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and add 1 pinch of dried dill as a garnish, if using.
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- Thaw the package of frozen seafood mix in your fridge overnight before making this pasta dish.
- Since the frozen seafood mix is already cooked, make sure not to overcook it, or you can get undesirable results.
- I recommend using freshly grated Parmesan cheese over store-bought as it will melt easier and have better results.
- Don't cook the pasta the entire way, as it will continue to cook when you add it to the creamy sauce. Make sure to stop 1-2 minutes before the time that the instructions suggest.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Once the seafood pasta has completely cooled, store any leftovers in an airtight storage container in your refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating
For larger portions, place your leftovers in a baking dish and cover the dish with foil. Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and cook around for 10-15 minutes or until the pasta is warmed through to your satisfaction. Alternatively, you can reheat individual portions in the microwave in 30-second increments.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! I have made different versions with shrimp, lobster, and salmon before, and it was just as tasty! You could also use crab, scallops, or mussels if desired.
I like to use penne pasta when I'm making this pasta dish with a package of frozen seafood mix. However, you can use any pasta that you like! Fettuccine, linguini, or spaghetti would also work great too, as they soak up the sauce very well!
Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend freezing this dish because heavy cream usually separates as it thaws. So for the best results, enjoy any leftovers that are stored in the fridge within 3-4 days.
🌊🍤🍣 More Seafood Recipes
- Shrimp Burrito Bowl - A delicious Tex-Mex burrito bowl full of the best burrito toppings!
- Shrimp Fajitas - Restaurant-quality fajitas featuring perfectly seasoned shrimp, onions, and bell peppers!
- Pan-Seared Wahoo Saku Block - A quick and easy fish dinner that's ready to serve in just 10 minutes!
- Pan-Seared Scallops - These pan-seared scallops are the perfect dish to enjoy on any special occasion!
- Mirliton - A classic Cajun dish that combines chayote squash, shrimp, ham, bread crumbs, spices, and herbs!
- Crab Cakes - A simple appetizer or main dish that will impress your whole family!
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📖 Recipe Card
Creamy Seafood Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 oz penne (or your preferred pasta)
- 1 lb frozen seafood mix (thawed)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 shallots (thinly sliced)
- 1 teaspoon garlic (minced)
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- 1 pinch dried dill (or 1 tablespoon fresh dill or parsley for garnish)
Instructions
- Follow the directions on your pasta box and cook 12 oz penne pasta to about 1-2 minutes shy of al dente. Then reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and set aside. Drain the rest and run the pasta under cool water.
- Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a large frying pan and heat over medium heat. Once the oil starts to shimmer, add 1 lb frozen seafood mix and cook for about 3-4 minutes or until the seafood mix is no longer translucent. Set aside.
- Carefully wipe the skillet clean with paper towels then add 2 tablespoon butter and heat until it melts. Add 2 shallots and 1 teaspoon garlic to the pan. Saute for about 2 minutes or until they become fragrant.
- Add 2 cups heavy cream to the pan then add the seasonings (¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper, and ¼ teaspoon paprika). Turn up the heat from medium-high to high and bring the sauce to a boil.
- As it starts to boil, add the cooked pasta to the frying pan and cook until the pasta absorbs the majority of the liquid. Stir occasionally. If you prefer a thinner sauce, add some of the pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
- Add in the cooked seafood mix and combine with the pasta and sauce. Take the pan off of the heat. Top the dish with ¼ cup Parmesan cheese and add 1 pinch dried dill as a garnish, if using.
Notes
- Thaw the package of frozen seafood mix in your fridge overnight before making this pasta dish.
- Since the frozen seafood mix is already cooked, make sure to not overcook it or you can get undesirable results.
- I recommend using freshly grated Parmesan cheese over store-bought as it will melt easier and have better results.
- Don't cook the pasta the entire way as it will continue to cook when you add it to the creamy sauce. Make sure to stop 1-2 minutes before the time that the instructions suggest.
- To store: Once the seafood pasta has completely cooled, store any leftovers in an airtight storage container in your refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- To reheat: For larger portions, place your leftover seafood pasta in a baking dish and cover the dish with foil. Bake in the oven to 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes or until the pasta is warmed through to your satisfaction. Alternatively, you can reheat individual portions in the microwave in 30-second increments.
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