27 Seafood Pasta Recipes That Are Surprisingly Simple

Upgrade pasta night with these fresh and flavorful seafood dishes.

When we're looking for a super-quick, still-impressive supper, we turn to seafood. Not only do fish and shellfish cook quickly (we're talking a matter of minutes), but they have the potential to make any meal feel fancy. Plus, seafood provides a great, light option to get your protein in.

Upgrade pasta night with these easy-peasy seafood dishes that are designed to impress in a flash—most of which are ready in 30 minutes or less. Shrimp, crab, tuna, and scallops will be a welcome change from the usual chicken or ground beef pasta recipes that you rely on for busy weeknights.

Once you realize how delicious and easy these dishes are, we know they'll end up with a permanent place in your dinner rotation. From Creamy Pesto-and-Shrimp Penne with Peas to New Tuna Casserole, these seafood pasta recipes have all earned five stars from us, and we bet your family will feel the same way.

Cajun Shrimp Boil Pasta

This family-style dish is tossed in a flavorful sauce that's made with Old Bay seasoning, scallions, lemon, and thyme. You will transport yourself and everyone at the dinner table to the shore. Be sure to make this as often as possible for the beach vibe you need.

Pasta With Shrimp And Tomato Cream Sauce

The best part about shrimp is it takes so little time to get it right. For the best flavor in this easy recipe, use fresh shrimp, not frozen. Prep time and cooking have this restaurant-worthy meal on the table in 25-minutes.

Shrimp And Peas With Farfalle

Don't forget to reserve one cup of pasta water before draining the farfalle. Making a creamy sauce often stems from using some of the pasta water. In this case, you can't go wrong by setting aside some of that water in order to make this dish sing,

Pasta Primavera With Shrimp

This easy recipe allows you to cook pasta, plenty of veggies, and shrimp all in one pot. Cooking in stages will ensure each ingredient is cooked just right. You'll want that not just for the right doneness, but for the brightly colored result of the veggies.

New Tuna Casserole

Crushed potato chips help make a crunchy topping for this creamy, cheesy casserole that will become a new suppertime favorite. We love the different textures here, and the hearty satisfaction of comfort food from a casserole dish.

Tuna Pasta Salad

This light and bright dish is a far cry from your typical tuna salad. Using tuna packed in oil will help create more flavor than a water-packed variety would. Don't forget having canned tuna in your pantry can truly help problem solve your last minute meal planning'

Crab And Bacon Linguine Recipe

This is absolutely gorgeous when plated, and you will feel like you just pulled off a private chef experience. Choose an easy wine pairing like a Pinot Noir, and this will taste fully rounded and satisfying. Serve with crusty bread for a special occasion worthy meal that you can still enjoy on busy nights.

Creamy Pesto And Shrimp Penne With Peas

Convenience items like pre-peeled shrimp, frozen peas, and store-bought pesto help this dish come together in just 25 minutes. The colors are vivid and the flavors are fresh. No one will every guess that you used a couple of smart shortcuts.

Shrimp Destin Linguine

This quick and easy dish will become a dinnertime staple for shrimp lovers. Just as the white shores of Destin, Florida beckon with the allure of beachy dreams, this dish will conjure visions of your most memorable shoreside experience. You will be asked to make this more than once.

Easy Shrimp Scampi With Basil

A light sauce lets the flavor of the fresh basil and shrimp shine. Remember that pasta does not require heavy sauce and meat to make it delicious. This option is one of many pasta dishes that will convince you that light can be just as tasty, and even more nutritious.

Seared Scallops With Fresh Tomato Basil Sauce And Orzo

Don't forget that orzo is also a pasta offering. It is often mistaken for a grain, but like couscous, is truly a pasta. This recipe is ready in just 30 minutes—proving that impressive dinners can still be made on busy weeknights.

Shrimp Scampi Linguine

This is one of those dishes that we crave, and the faster we can execute at the stove, the better. Ready in just 15 minutes, this Shrimp Scampi is as easy as they come. You won't get away with making this a "sometimes" meal.

Shrimp Alfredo

Homemade Alfredo sauce is shockingly simple to make, and this recipe proves it. Once you've got the skills, you will want to perfect them. Nobody is going to refuse your experimentation, in this case.

Seafood Pasta Salad

This cold pasta salad features shrimp and Cajun seasoning.

One-Pan Garlic-Butter Shrimp With Orzo

Orzo is one of the smaller pastas, but it is versatile in its use. Think of it as an option to use instead of rice, or the go-to pasta you need for a soup dish. In this particular case, it's part of a one pan wonder completed in 30 minutes. Now that's a winning dinner formula.

Shrimp And Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta

When cherry tomatoes are cooked to bursting, they bring a sweet tang into a dish. In this case, they are perfectly paired with shrimp and fresh basil, helping to present a meal that is a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. You'll want to offer this easy approach to pasta time and time again.

Vietnamese Style Shrimp Noodle Bowls

We like the bright flavors and colors in this noodle bowl that features rice noodles for an especially hearty and satisfying seafood main.

Orzo Salad With Shrimp And Lemon Dressing

Sugar snap peas, English peas and asparagus make this brilliant green salad a smash. When tossed together with the lemon dressing and shrimp, it definitely merits a do-over just so you can enjoy it again. The key here is to let the dish come to room temperatures so that all of the flavors are on point.

Southern Shrimp Pasta Salad

“There's just something about pickled shrimp that makes me giddy,” writes Senior Producer and Test Kitchen Pro Ivy Odom about the beloved Southern appetizer. This springy pasta salad recipe takes pickled shrimp to main course status.

Lemon-Pepper Shrimp Scampi Pasta

Take it from the five-star reviews on this quick but pretty pasta dinner: “This recipe was fabulous! The flavors just explode and it’s such a delight to taste…This was such a treat and my husband raved about it! This will definitely be a ‘company dinner’ also.”

Skillet Shrimp Destin with Orzo

When you’re at the beach but don’t feel like getting dressed up for dinner out, grab some fresh shrimp from a local seafood spot and put this coastal dinner together on the stovetop for a family-style meal that feels restaurant-worthy.

Lobster Mac and Cheese

This decadent recipe takes a cheesy childhood favorite and upgrades it to five-star status. All it needs is a simple side salad to round out the meal.

Creamy Salmon Fettuccini and Spring Vegetables

This spring pasta is full of healthy veggies and good-for-you salmon, but the creamy (yet light!) sauce makes it feel a little richer.

Cacio e Pepe with Sauteed Shrimp

Cacio e pepe is one of the simplest but most delicious ways to turn out a pasta dinner. Sauteed shrimp adds protein and flavor that feels just right for an al fresco summer dinner.

Grilled Shrimp-and-Squash Pasta with Summer Herbs

This bright pasta is like summer in a bowl. It’s a delicious way to use up fresh herbs and squash from the farmers’ market.

Skillet Orzo with Fish and Herbs

Some recipes claim to be one-dish wonders, but you still end up with tons of dirty dishes on the side. For this pretty dinner, the orzo and fish cook in the same skillet, so cleanup afterwards is actually a breeze.

Soba Noodle-and-Shrimp Bowls

This fun recipe is an easy way to get a healthy dinner on the table for the family. Since it can be served at room temp or chilled, it makes a great lunch the following day as well.

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