Description
Elevate your dinner game with this Shrimp Scampi Garlic Cream Pasta, a delightful symphony of flavors where tender shrimp meet a luscious garlic cream sauce. This comforting yet sophisticated meal is quick and easy to prepare, making it perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
- Fresh or frozen shrimp (large or jumbo)
- Linguine or fettuccine (or any pasta on hand like spaghetti or penne)
- Fresh garlic
- Heavy cream
- Unsalted butter
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add your pasta of choice and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the rest and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Once melted, add the shrimp in a single layer. Season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side until they turn pink and opaque. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the remaining butter. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic!
- Slowly pour in the heavy cream while stirring. Bring to a gentle simmer, then add grated Parmesan cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
- Return the sautéed shrimp to the skillet and add the cooked pasta. Toss everything together until the pasta and shrimp are evenly coated in the creamy sauce. If desired, sprinkle in red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
- Remove from heat and stir in freshly chopped parsley. Serve immediately while hot, garnished with additional Parmesan if you’d like!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg
Keywords: Don’t overcook the shrimp to avoid a rubbery texture. You can simplify clean-up by cooking the pasta directly in the skillet with the sauce after sautéing the shrimp. Consider adding vegetables like spinach or cherry tomatoes for extra nutrition.