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Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta Recipe

4.8 from 125 reviews

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.

Ingredients

Scale

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

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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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