Creamy Shrimp Pasta Recipe: Fast, Flavorful Family Favorite

Creamy shrimp pasta transports you to a world of culinary comfort with its luxurious blend of ocean-fresh seafood and silky smooth sauce.

Maritime flavors dance through delicate strands, promising a sensory experience that elevates simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

Each forkful promises a harmonious marriage of tender seafood and perfectly cooked noodles.

The sauce whispers hints of garlic, butter, and subtle herbs that complement the sweet, delicate protein.

Textures intertwine seamlessly, creating a balanced dish that feels both elegant and approachable.

Rich yet light, this pasta celebrates the magic of minimalist cooking with maximum flavor impact.

You’ll find yourself captivated by its Mediterranean-inspired essence and impressive simplicity.

What Sides Go with Creamy Shrimp Pasta

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: A chilled Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio complements the creamy shrimp pasta's richness, cutting through the sauce with bright, zesty notes that enhance the seafood's delicate flavor.
• Match with Garlic Bread: Crusty, toasted garlic bread provides the perfect crunchy texture contrast to the smooth, velvety pasta. Its garlicky warmth also echoes the dish's aromatic undertones.
• Serve with Fresh Arugula Salad: A light, peppery arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette balances the pasta's creamy heaviness. The salad's tangy, crisp elements refresh the palate between bites of rich shrimp pasta.
• Complement with Chardonnay: An oaked Chardonnay offers buttery notes that harmonize with the dish's creamy sauce, while its subtle acidity prevents the meal from feeling too heavy.

Shrimp Pasta Twists to Keep It Fresh

• Spicy Southwest Seafood Pasta: Replace Parmesan with pepper jack cheese and add diced jalapeños. Mix in chili powder and smoked paprika for a bold, fiery flavor profile.
• Mediterranean Herb Shrimp Pasta: Swap heavy cream for Greek yogurt and incorporate fresh dill, oregano, and crumbled feta. Finish with kalamata olives for an authentic Mediterranean touch.
• Creamy Cajun Shrimp Fettuccine: Season shrimp with Cajun spice blend instead of salt. Use andouille sausage for extra depth and add a splash of white wine to the sauce for complexity.
• Garlic Roasted Vegetable Seafood Pasta: Include roasted bell peppers, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes. Use roasted garlic instead of fresh and incorporate basil for a lighter, vegetable-forward version.

Why Creamy Shrimp Pasta Is the Best of Both Worlds

• Savor Quick Elegance: This pasta delivers restaurant-quality flavor in just 20 minutes, perfect for busy home cooks craving a luxurious meal without complex techniques.
• Embrace Creamy Comfort: Rich Parmesan sauce coats tender fettuccine and succulent shrimp, creating a velvety texture that melts in your mouth with sophisticated yet homey satisfaction.
• Maximize Flavor Layering: Searing shrimp first, then building sauce in the same pan captures deep, caramelized notes while minimizing dish cleanup, making every bite intensely delicious and preparation effortless.

What You Need for Cream Meets Seafood

• Fettuccine: Soft, long pasta that holds creamy sauce beautifully and provides hearty base for the dish.
• Shrimp: Sweet, tender seafood protein that adds delicate ocean flavor and quick-cooking protein.

• Butter: Rich base for sauce that adds deep, smooth flavor and helps create silky texture.
• Heavy Cream: Luxurious, thick cream that creates smooth, velvety sauce with rich mouthfeel.
• Parmesan Cheese: Salty, aged cheese that adds sharp, complex flavor and helps thicken sauce.

• Kosher Salt: Classic seasoning for enhancing and balancing overall dish flavors.
• Olive Oil: High-heat cooking oil for searing shrimp with light, fruity undertones.
• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that provides deep, pungent flavor base for sauce.
• Lemon Zest: Bright, citrusy element that adds fresh, zesty notes to finished dish.
• Lemon Juice: Tangy liquid that cuts through richness and brightens overall flavor profile.
• Parsley: Fresh herb that adds light, green garnish and subtle herbaceous finish.

How to Cook Up This Comfort Dish Fast

Step 1: Prepare Pasta Base

Grab a large pot and fill it with water. Sprinkle in a generous amount of salt. Bring the water to a rolling boil. Add fettuccine and cook for 1 minute less than the package’s al dente instructions, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Before draining, carefully scoop out of pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside.

Step 2: Sear Succulent Shrimp

Sprinkle kosher salt over the shrimp, ensuring even seasoning. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the shrimp in batches, allowing each piece to turn golden and cook through. Remove the perfectly seared shrimp and set aside.

Step 3: Create Luxurious Cream Sauce

In the same skillet, melt butter until it starts to shimmer. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant and lightly golden. Pour in heavy cream and sprinkle Parmesan cheese. Stir continuously until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.

Step 4: Combine and Finish

Gently add the cooked pasta into the cream sauce. Toss in the seared shrimp. Splash in the reserved pasta water to help the sauce coat everything evenly. Brighten the dish with fresh lemon zest, a squeeze of lemon juice, and chopped parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately while hot and enjoy the creamy, zesty flavors.

Tips for Saucy Shrimp Pasta Without Clumps

• Prevent Pasta Sticking: Stir fettuccine occasionally during cooking and use a large pot to give noodles plenty of space to move.
• Master Shrimp Searing: Pat shrimp completely dry before cooking to achieve a perfect golden-brown exterior and prevent steaming instead of searing.
• Cheese Melting Technique: Grate Parmesan cheese fresh and add gradually to sauce, stirring constantly to create a smooth, silky texture without clumping.
• Pasta Water Magic: Always reserve some starchy pasta water, which helps bind sauce to noodles and creates a more cohesive, creamy consistency.
• Flavor Balancing: Taste and adjust seasoning at the end, using lemon juice and fresh herbs to brighten the rich, creamy sauce and enhance overall dish depth.

Keep That Sauce Silky After Storing

• Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container within two hours of cooking. Properly stored shrimp pasta will stay fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Reheat gently to prevent sauce separation and maintain creamy texture. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to distribute heat evenly. Add a splash of reserved pasta water or cream to refresh the sauce and prevent dryness.
• Avoid freezing this creamy pasta dish, as dairy-based sauces tend to break down and become grainy when thawed. Fresh preparation always tastes best with delicate seafood and cream-based recipes.

Creamy Shrimp Pasta Recipe

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4.7 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Creamy shrimp pasta delivers Mediterranean coastal comfort with silky sauce and succulent seafood. Rich parmesan and garlic blend seamlessly, creating a luxurious experience you’ll savor with each delightful forkful.

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Ingredients

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Protein:

• 1.5 pounds raw peeled and deveined jumbo shrimp (21 to 25 per pound), thawed if frozen

Pasta and Dairy:

• 1 pound dried fettuccine pasta
• 1.5 ounces (about ⅔ firmly packed cup grated or scant ½ cup store-bought grated) Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Seasonings and Aromatics:

• 1 medium lemon
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1.75 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for the pasta water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more as needed
• Chopped fresh parsley leaves, for garnish (optional)

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Instructions

1. Fill a large pot with water, add a generous amount of salt, and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
2. Carefully lower the fettuccine into the boiling water, stirring periodically to prevent the pasta from clumping together, and cook for approximately 1 minute less than the package’s recommended al dente time.
3. Using a measuring cup, extract of pasta cooking water before draining the noodles in a colander.
4. Pat the raw shrimp dry with paper towels and season evenly with kosher salt on both sides.
5. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the oil shimmers and begins to ripple.
6. Sear the seasoned shrimp in batches to avoid overcrowding, cooking approximately 1-2 minutes per side until they turn golden and become opaque.
7. Transfer the cooked shrimp to a clean plate and set aside.
8. In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and melt unsalted butter, allowing it to foam slightly.
9. Add minced garlic to the butter, stirring continuously until fragrant and lightly golden, about 30-45 seconds.
10. Pour heavy cream into the skillet and gradually whisk in grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce becomes smooth and slightly thickened.
11. Add the cooked fettuccine to the creamy sauce, gently tossing to coat the pasta evenly, using reserved pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency if needed.
12. Carefully fold in the seared shrimp, freshly grated lemon zest, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
13. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the dish and give a final taste, adjusting salt and pepper as desired.
14. Serve immediately while the pasta is hot and the sauce is creamy.

Notes

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, as cream-based sauces tend to separate when reheated.
• Quickly pat shrimp dry before seasoning to ensure golden, crispy exterior when searing.
• Grate fresh Parmesan cheese for maximum flavor and smoother sauce consistency.
• Substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk for a lighter version if desired.
• Use fresh shrimp for best taste, but frozen works well when thawed completely and patted dry.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 580 kcal
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 760mg
• Fat: 26g
• Saturated Fat: 12g
• Carbohydrates: 60g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 32g
• Cholesterol: 200mg