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Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta is a rich and tasty meal that is great for weeknight dinners or special occasions. Shrimp are cooked in garlic butter until they are soft, then mixed with pasta and covered in a thick, creamy sauce. This recipe is quick and easy to make, and it tastes like something you’d get at a restaurant.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

The creamy garlic sauce is rich and delicious.
Quick to make: It only takes 30 minutes to make a filling meal.
You can change it to work with the pasta and extras you want.
Great for any event: It’s fancy enough for a date night but simple enough for busy nights.
Family-friendly: A dish that everyone at the table will love.

Pasta with Creamy Garlic Shrimp

The creamy garlic shrimp pasta is a rich and decadent dish with tender shrimp, a rich garlic cream sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta. This recipe is great for a weeknight dinner or a special event because it’s quick and easy.

Time to get ready: 15 minutes
Time to cook: 15 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes in total
Yield: 4 servings 1x

Things you need

For the Pasta:

Linguine, spaghetti, or fettuccine pasta in 12 oz (340 g)
1/2 tsp salt (for the water to boil)

For the shrimp:

1 lb (450g) large shrimp, with the shells and veins removed
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika
1/2 tsp. of garlic powder
Add salt and pepper to taste.

For the sauce with garlic cream:

Two tablespoons of butter without salt
4 cloves of garlic, chopped up
1 cup (240 ml) of heavy cream
1/2 cup (50g) of grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional)
1 tsp of lemon juice
Add salt and pepper to taste.

For decoration:

2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley
More Parmesan cheese

How to do it

Make the Pasta:

Put a lot of salt in a big pot of water and bring it to a boil. Follow the package directions to cook the pasta until it is al dente. Set aside 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.

Make the shrimp:

Put the shrimp in a medium bowl and season them with smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Put a lot of olive oil in a big skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until they are pink and opaque. Take out and put aside.

How to Make the Garlic Cream Sauce:

Put the butter in the same pan and heat it over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until it smells good.
Add the heavy cream and bring to a low boil. Add the Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes (if using) and stir until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens a little.
Add the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.

Mix the sauce and pasta together:

Put the pasta that has been cooked in the skillet and toss it with the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the water you saved from the pasta.
Put the cooked shrimp back in the skillet and gently toss them to mix.

Serve:

Put the pasta on plates, top with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese, and serve right away.

Changes

Spicy twist: For more heat, add more red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce.
Add spinach, cherry tomatoes, or sautéed mushrooms to your dish for more nutrition and flavor.
For a creamier texture, add shredded mozzarella or Gruyère cheese to the mix.
Instead of shrimp, use chicken, scallops, or tofu.
If you want to make this dish gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.
Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream to make it lighter.
For more vegetables, add spinach, cherry tomatoes, or mushrooms to the sauce.

Keeping and reheating

Storage: Keep leftovers in the fridge in a container that doesn’t let air in for up to two days.
To reheat, put it in a skillet over low heat and add a splash of cream or pasta water to loosen the sauce. Don’t microwave the shrimp because it might cook too much.
Freezing: Don’t freeze it because the cream sauce might separate when it thaws.

Questions and Answers

Is it okay to use frozen shrimp?
Yes, the best texture comes from thawing the shrimp all the way and then patting them dry before cooking.
What kind of pasta is best?
Classic choices are spaghetti, fettuccine, or linguine, but any kind of pasta works.
Is it possible to create this dish without dairy?
Use coconut cream or a plant-based cream instead of Parmesan cheese. You can also use nutritional yeast or vegan cheese instead of Parmesan cheese.
How can I keep the shrimp from getting tough?
Take the shrimp off the heat as soon as they turn pink and opaque.
Is it okay to put wine in the sauce?
Of course! After cooking the garlic, add a splash of white wine and let it cook down a little before adding the cream.
What goes well with this dish?
For a full meal, serve with garlic bread, a salad with fresh greens, or roasted vegetables.
Is this food hot?
You can leave out the red pepper flakes if you want a milder flavor. They add a little heat.
How can I make the sauce thicker?
If you need to, let the sauce simmer for a few more minutes to thicken, or mix together some cornstarch and water to make a slurry.
Is it possible to make the sauce ahead of time?
Yes, you can make the sauce ahead of time, but you should warm it up slowly and mix it with freshly cooked pasta and shrimp before
How should I decorate this dish?
Adding fresh parsley, more Parmesan, and a squeeze of lemon juice makes the flavors even better.

This creamy garlic shrimp pasta is a fancy dish that is also very easy to make and tastes great. This recipe is sure to impress, whether you’re making it for your family or a special event. You can change it to fit your tastes and enjoy a meal at home that tastes like it came from a restaurant. Try it tonight for a dish that’s creamy, garlicky, and so good!