This Is the Recipe Gordon Ramsay’s Family Can’t Stop Eating
Updated: Jan. 09, 2023
The Ramsay family loves to request capellini with lemon, garlic and crab!
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Gordon Ramsay may be a world-famous chef with restaurants, cookbooks and an impressive slate of TV shows under his belt, but when it comes to cooking for his family, it’s back to basics. His go-to crab capellini recipe requires only a handful ingredients—and no Michelin stars.
This list of cooking tips from Chef Ramsay will help you become a pro in the kitchen.
What Does Gordon Ramsay Cook at Home?
Chef Ramsay and his wife, Tana, have five children: Megan, Holly, Jack, Matilda and Oscar. We had the chance to chat with him about Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, which just started its second season on National Geographic. During our chat, we couldn’t help but ask about his family’s most-requested meals. The dish his family always asks for is capellini with lemon, garlic and crab.
“They always scream, Dad, Dad, give me your capellini with lemon, garlic and crab,” says the chef. “I’ll go back home, and they’ll have bought the crab meat. It’s such an easy thing to do, but they always want it.”
There’ll be no Kitchen Nightmares with this meal. Chef Ramsay has perfected the recipe and can put it together in less than four minutes. He says all the dish needs is capellini, two chilis, three cloves of garlic, olive oil, fresh basil, chopped red onion and fresh crab meat. (FYI: If you don’t have capellini on hand, angel hair pasta will work just as well.)
The exact recipe is a secret, but it sounds like the Ramsays have dinner on the table faster than our family can decide which Netflix show to watch!
To make something similar at home, check out this shrimp dish published on the chef’s website. Oh, and by the way, learn more about the Gordon Ramsay-approved Hexclad cookware, too.
How to Cook Like Gordon
This recipe will make you feel like a master chef in your own kitchen. You can continue the seafood pasta trend all summer long with this 30-minute recipe for sauteed scallops and shrimp over angel hair pasta. You can also experiment with wasabi crab cakes or fish tacos with homemade guacamole.
More Fresh, Easy Seafood Dinners
Asparagus Nicoise SaladI’ve used my Nicoise as an appetizer or a main-dish salad, and it’s a winner every time I put it on the table. Here’s to a colorful, make-ahead salad! —Jan Meyer, St. Paul, Minnesota
Split-Second ShrimpI use my microwave to hurry along the prep of this super fast shrimp scampi. It’s deliciously buttery and full of garlic flavor. We love it as a main dish, but it makes an excellent appetizer, too. — Jalayne Luckett, Marion, Illinois
Breaded Sea ScallopsI never liked seafood until my husband urged me to try scallops, and now I love them. He says my breaded version is the best he's ever had. A tip I learned was to put them on a paper-towel-topped plate to soak up excess oil. —Martina Preston, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
Shrimp RamenA package of store-bought noodles will speed up assembly of this colorful shrimp ramen that's flavored with carrots and small shrimp. My mother passed the recipe on to me. It’s delicious and so quick to make on busy nights. —Donna Hellinger, Lorain, Ohio
Classic Crab CakesOur region is known for good seafood, and crab cakes are a traditional favorite. I learned to make them from a chef in a restaurant where they were a bestseller. The crabmeat's sweet and mild flavor is sparked by the blend of other ingredients. —Debbie Terenzini, Lusby, Maryland
Crispy Dill TilapiaEvery week I try to serve a new healthy fish. With its fresh dill and delicious panko bread crumb herb crust, this dish with mild tilapia is a winner. —Tamara Huron, New Market, Alabama
Cajun ShrimpThese zippy shrimp bring a lot of pizazz to the table. Use as much or as little cayenne pepper as you'd like, depending on your family's tastes. We love ours served alongside rice pilaf. —Donna Thomason, El Paso, Texas
Lemon Shrimp with Parmesan RiceI grew up in Biloxi, Mississippi, where rice, garlic and seafood are staples of Gulf Coast cuisine. This easy shrimp and rice dish is a longtime family favorite that's ready in minutes. —Amie Overby, Reno, Nevada
Stir-Fried Shrimp and MushroomsAfter a tiring but beautiful day of fishing, this is a fast and delicious way to serve our famous Key West pink shrimp. It's always a big hit with guests. —Jeanne Wolfort, Summerland Key, Florida
Herbed Tuna and White Bean SaladThis is a quick and delicious salad that can be made special for guests—or yourself—by grilling fresh tuna steaks instead of using canned. —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida
Mediterranean TilapiaI recently became a fan of tilapia. The mild taste makes it easy to top with our favorite ingredients. And it’s low in calories and fat. What’s not to love? —Robin Brenneman, Hilliard, Ohio
Tilapia with Cucumber RelishIn Wyandotte, Michigan, Mary VanHollebeke found a recipe that lures even landlubbers to her fish suppers. "I spotted this easy entree on a recipe card in my local fish market," she reports. "Although my husband isn't big on fish, he enjoys this mild-tasting tilapia." The relish adds garden-fresh flavor and pretty color to the lightly browned fillets.
Lemon Basil SalmonMy husband came up with this easy, foil-packet recipe for flaky, fork-tender salmon. This recipe is a winner. —Marianne Bauman Modesto, CA
Lemon-Butter Tilapia with AlmondsSometimes I want a nice meal without a ton of effort or wait time. Thankfully, I have this lemony, buttery fish that's super fast and totally tasty. —Ramona Parris, Canton, Georgia
Spiced SalmonThis delicious, moist fish is very quick and easy to prepare. It gets a little sweetness from brown sugar, but overall the seasonings are mild and give this dish broad appeal. It's a wonderful way to enjoy healthy salmon.—Donna Reynolds, Innisfail, Alberta
Sesame Cilantro ShrimpOn days when I don't feel like spending much time in the kitchen, I reach for shrimp. I can have a hot meal in the table in 10 minutes. —Tami Penunuri, League City, Texas
Tilapia with Corn SalsaMy family loves fish, and this quick and tasty dish is very popular at my house. Though it tastes like it takes a long time, it cooks in minutes under the broiler. We enjoy it with lemon wedges with couscous on the side. —Brenda Coffey, Singer Island, Florida
Originally Published: June 12, 2020
