Description
Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta is a quick and easy seafood dish combining tender shrimp cooked in a rich, garlicky cream sauce with perfectly al dente pasta. This luscious and comforting meal blends simple ingredients to create a flavorful, indulgent, and versatile dish ideal for busy weeknights or elegant dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp
- 1 lb medium-sized shrimp, fresh or thawed, peeled and deveined
Sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Pasta
- 8 oz fettuccine, linguine, or spaghetti
Garnish
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Pasta: Cook your choice of pasta in salted boiling water until just al dente. Reserve one cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside while keeping it warm.
- Sauté the Shrimp: Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shrimp and cook about 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp to avoid overcooking and set aside.
- Cook the Garlic: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned, to release its aromatic oils.
- Create the Cream Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and stir to combine with garlic. Simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Add Cheese and Seasoning: Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth, then season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to brighten the flavors.
- Combine Pasta and Shrimp: Return the shrimp to the pan and add the cooked pasta. Toss everything together, gradually adding reserved pasta water to achieve desired sauce consistency.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley on top and serve immediately to enjoy the dish at its creamy best.
Notes
- Use fresh or properly thawed shrimp for a tender and juicy bite.
- Avoid overcooking the shrimp; remove when pink and opaque.
- Reserve pasta water to loosen the sauce and help it cling to pasta.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for richer flavor.
- Sauté garlic just until fragrant to avoid bitterness.
- To reheat leftovers, add a splash of cream or milk to restore sauce creaminess.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 220mg
Keywords: shrimp pasta, creamy garlic shrimp, garlic shrimp pasta, seafood pasta, quick shrimp dinner, creamy shrimp sauce