Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta Recipe
Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta is a quick and delicious Italian-inspired dish featuring succulent shrimp sautéed in a rich garlic cream sauce, tossed with tender pasta and finished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner or an impressive meal for guests.
- Author: Ria
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Low Salt
Pasta
- 8 ounces fettuccine or linguine pasta
Shrimp and Protein
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 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.
- Sauté the Shrimp: In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add the shrimp, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the Garlic Cream Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned. Pour in the heavy cream, stirring to combine, and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Add Parmesan and Season: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce has thickened slightly. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Toss Pasta and Shrimp: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet with the sauce. Add the drained pasta and toss everything gently to coat the pasta evenly with the creamy garlic sauce.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan or fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- Use fresh shrimp for best flavor, but frozen shrimp can be used if thawed and patted dry.
- Reserve some pasta cooking water to loosen the sauce if it becomes too thick.
- For a lighter option, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream, though the sauce will be less rich.
- Freshly grated Parmesan is preferred over pre-grated for better melting and flavor.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
Keywords: garlic shrimp pasta, creamy shrimp pasta, Italian pasta recipes, quick pasta dinner, shrimp pasta with cream sauce