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Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta Recipe

4.6 from 391 reviews

This Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta is a luscious and comforting dish combining tender shrimp sautéed in a garlicky cream sauce with perfectly cooked pasta and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. It’s an easy-to-make, restaurant-quality meal ready in under 30 minutes, perfect for weeknight dinners or casual entertaining.

Ingredients

Scale

Seafood

  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined

Pasta

  • 8 ounces pasta (such as fettuccine or linguine)

Sauce

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Optional: chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water.
  2. Sauté the shrimp: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp, season lightly with salt and pepper, and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
  3. Prepare the garlic cream sauce: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add butter. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
  4. Add Parmesan and season: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce thickens slightly. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time until desired consistency is reached.
  5. Combine and serve: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet and toss to coat them in the sauce. Add the cooked pasta and gently toss until everything is well combined and heated through. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired and serve immediately.

Notes

  • For best results, use fresh or thawed shrimp.
  • If you prefer a lighter sauce, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
  • Add crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
  • Grated Parmesan cheese can be substituted with Pecorino Romano for a sharper flavor.
  • Reserve some pasta water to help loosen the sauce if it thickens too much.

Keywords: creamy garlic shrimp pasta, shrimp pasta recipe, garlic cream sauce, easy pasta dinner, Italian shrimp pasta