Crab Risotto with Garlic & Chives 🦀🧄🌾 Creamy Arborio Rice Loaded with Sweet Crab, Aromatic Garlic, and Fresh Herb Lift

This is comfort with polish — creamy risotto infused with garlic, white wine, and Parmesan, folded with tender lump crab and finished with a chive-and-lemon finish that brings everything into balance. Rich, briny, and refined in all the right ways.

Perfect for a date night in, a small dinner party, or a solo upgrade dinner that feels like luxury.

Ingredients (Serves 2–3)

For the risotto base

• 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• ½ small shallot or onion, finely chopped
• ¾ cup Arborio rice
• ½ cup dry white wine
• 3–3½ cups warm seafood or vegetable broth
• ½ cup grated Parmesan
• 1 tbsp butter (for finishing)
• Zest and juice of ½ lemon
• 1 tbsp chopped chives (plus more for garnish)

For the crab

• 6–8 oz cooked lump crab meat (picked over for shells)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: pinch of Old Bay or cayenne for subtle heat

Instructions

Step 1: Sauté Aromatics

In a wide saucepan or pot, heat olive oil over medium. Add shallot and cook 2–3 minutes until translucent. Add garlic and stir 1 minute more, just until fragrant.

Step 2: Toast the Rice

Stir in Arborio rice and toast 1–2 minutes until edges look slightly translucent. Add white wine and simmer, stirring, until mostly absorbed.

Step 3: Add Broth Gradually

Add warm broth ½ cup at a time, stirring gently and often. Let each addition absorb before adding more. Continue until rice is al dente and creamy, 18–22 minutes.

Step 4: Fold in Crab

Reduce heat to low. Gently fold in crab meat, butter, Parmesan, lemon zest, and juice. Stir until crab is warmed through and everything is creamy. Season with salt, pepper, and optional cayenne or Old Bay to taste.

Step 5: Finish

Stir in chopped chives. Let rest 1–2 minutes off heat to thicken slightly.

Step 6: Serve

Spoon into warm bowls and garnish with extra chives, black pepper, or a drizzle of olive oil. Serve with lemon wedges on the side.

Flavor Variations

• Add sweet corn, asparagus, or spinach for freshness and color
• Use mascarpone or a splash of cream for richer finish
• Stir in a spoonful of garlic confit or roasted garlic paste
• Add a splash of sherry or vermouth with the wine for extra depth
• Finish with crispy shallots or a pinch of truffle salt

Pro Tips

• Use lump or claw crab — avoid shredded for best texture
• Warm the broth so it doesn’t stall the risotto
• Stir gently and consistently — don’t rush the starch release
• Taste for salt at the end — crab can vary in salinity
• Let risotto rest briefly before plating for ideal creaminess

Final Thoughts

Crab Risotto with Garlic & Chives is rich but delicate, creamy but fresh — a dish where every bite balances sweet seafood, savory garlic, and bright herbs. It’s simple, luxurious, and quietly stunning.

Stir it slow. Fold it gently. Serve it like it’s special — because it is. 🦀🧄🌾🔥

🦐 More Coastal Seafood Recipes

From cozy casseroles to zesty grilled fish and elegant seafood pastas, this collection of Seafood Recipes covers every ocean-inspired craving — whether you’re planning a dinner party or a quick weeknight win.

🐟 Classic Seafood Dish Recipes – Think pan-seared salmon with lemon dill and timeless coastal favorites.
🦞 Delicious Seafood Boil Recipes – Spicy, saucy boils packed with crab, shrimp, and corn. The ultimate feast.
🍝 Seafood Pasta Recipes – Elegant and indulgent, like shrimp linguine in a white wine sauce.
🍤 Shrimp Recipes – Versatile, fast, and flavor-packed; smoky grills to sizzling stir-fries
🐟 Salmon Recipes – Baking & grilling to bowls, pastas, and more — healthy, flavorful, and easy to make/
🦞 Seafood Casseroles – Bubbly, Buttery & Oven-Ready. Comfort food meets coastal flavor.
🥣 Flavorful Seafood Soups – Rich chowders, bisques, and broth-based favorites.
🍽️ Easy Seafood Dinner Recipes – Quick, delicious, easy recipes bring bold flavor with minimal prep and cleanup
🥗 Healthy Seafood Recipes – Light, fresh & packed with protein and omega-3s with bright, satisfying flavor
🍚 Risotto Recipes with Seafood – Creamy, silky rice dishes meet the richness of the sea.
🌊 Seafood Stews – Mediterranean, Latin to classic American, hearty stews with satisfying depth in your bowl.
🍝🧀 Seafood Lasagna – Lasagna meets the sea in these rich and satisfying delicious twist classic bakes.