My creamy shrimp pasta is decadent, divine, and oh-so-delicious! Herbs and garlic come together with cream and shrimp in an unforgettable pasta dish that is quick to make—whether it’s a romantic stay-in date night or a family dinner.
Are you dreading the question, “What’s for dinner?” I feel ya! This creamy shrimp pasta recipe is a lifesaver when I struggle with dinner ideas because it’s fast and tastes like a 5-star restaurant meal!
My son isn’t too keen on shrimp, so lucky me gets to feast on his share while he gobbles up all the pasta. And hubby always comes back for seconds, so there’s no doubt this pasta dish is a winner in my family.
Why Cream Makes Pasta Better
Does heavy cream sound off alarms in your head? There’s so much controversy about what’s good for us and what’s not that I say we stop stressing ourselves and enjoy our food. So after making this for a while, I switched things up by adding cream and tomato paste to make it more comforting, creamy, and elegant—like a fancy schmancy restaurant, and it worked beautifully.
How to Make Creamy Shrimp Pasta
- Boil the pasta in a large pot according to the box instructions. Drain and set aside. (Photo 1)
- Prep seasonings while the pasta is cooking. (Photo 2)
- Season shrimp with salt, pepper, and Creole seasoning. Then sauté them over medium heat for 3-5 minutes or until lightly cooked, and set aside. (Photos 3-4)
- Add the paprika, thyme, and oregano. Stir the mixture for about a minute or until fragrant. (Photo 5)
- Stir in the tomato paste, cream, milk, lemon juice, and chicken broth. Heat it to a boil and simmer for 5-7 minutes. (Photos 6-8)
- Assemble: Stir the pasta into the sauce, allowing your pasta to soak up some of the sauce. (Photo 9)
- Add the shrimp along with the parsley and stir. Add cheese (if using). Stir for about a minute, and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Add more chicken broth if needed. Enjoy! (Photo 10)
Recipe Variations and Tips
- Add your favorite mushrooms or sun-dried tomatoes for more flavor and texture, as they’re a fantastic addition to any cream-based pasta dish.
- Take the salty richness of your creamy shrimp pasta dish to the next level by adding bacon. The distinct flavors of bacon and shrimp complement each other really well.
- If you’re a real cheese lover, add some Parmesan or mozzarella to create a scrumptious, decadent, cheesy shrimp pasta dish.
- Instead of adding salt directly to the creamy sauce, salt your pasta after draining. This will enhance the flavor of the pasta and make for a well-rounded taste experience.
- Start checking your pasta for doneness shortly before it should be ready to ensure it doesn’t overcook.
Make-Ahead and Leftovers
For a stress-free dinner:
- Make the shrimp, sauce, and pasta ahead and store them in the fridge separately (2-3 days).
- Heat the sauce in a skillet, add the cooked pasta and shrimp, and stir until heated through. It may need a splash of broth if it’s too dry.
- Top with Parmesan, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a sprinkle of parsley.
You can store leftovers in the fridge for up to four days. Freezing is not recommended, though it will work if you don’t mind the change in texture.
FAQs
All of it! Scallops, lobster, and crab are delicious choices for creamy seafood pasta.
Absolutely yes! But you’ll want to adjust the cooking method to the type of noodles.
Rice and starch noodles don’t need much time (sometimes it’s enough to pour boiling water over them and let them set for a few minutes, so check the package instructions), and don’t rinse them after.
Cook Korean sweet potato noodles (japchae) until translucent, then rinse off the excess starch so they don’t stick together. Quinoa, chickpea, and buckwheat pasta also need to be rinsed as soon as they come out of the water. Be careful not to overcook them as they get mushy fast.
Yes, you can. It will be less creamy, but it will still be awesome. So don’t let not having cream stop you from enjoying this deliciousness.
What to Serve With Creamy Shrimp Pasta
Sautéed spinach, a tossed salad, or spicy roast garlic broccoli add some greens and balance the dish’s richness. And there’s nothing like a glass of semi-sweet or dry white wine to go with delicious shrimp pasta.
More Decadent Pasta Dishes to Try
By Imma
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”26K2ZWMq” upload-date=”Mon Aug 06 2018 19:52:04 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)” name=”Creamy Shrimp Pasta” description=”Creamy Shrimp Pasta – Pasta smothered in a creamy sauce infused with garlic and herbs & tossed through with Juicy shrimp. Spicy, Buttery, Creamy Shrimp and pasta ready in 30 minutes.”]
This blog post was initially published in December 2014 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.
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