Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta
Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta is a quick and simple dish combining succulent shrimp, perfectly cooked pasta, and a luscious garlic cream sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, it delivers rich, indulgent flavors with a protein-packed, restaurant-quality meal that’s easy to prepare and customizable to suit different dietary needs.
- Author: Emily
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Can be made gluten-free
Main Ingredients
- 12 oz fettuccine or linguine pasta
- 1 lb fresh or thawed peeled and deveined shrimp
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook your pasta until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes depending on the type. Drain and set aside, reserving some pasta water for later.
- Sauté the Shrimp: Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shrimp, seasoning lightly with salt and pepper, and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- Prepare the Garlic Cream Sauce: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté briefly until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Combine Pasta and Shrimp: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet, and add the drained pasta. Toss everything together, using reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce if needed until perfectly creamy and coated.
- Finish and Serve: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and an extra sprinkle of Parmesan. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Don’t overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture; remove as soon as they turn pink and firm.
- Use freshly minced garlic for more vibrant flavor.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency and help it cling to the pasta.
- Grate your own Parmesan cheese for better melting and flavor enhancement.
- Add cream slowly while stirring continuously to prevent sauce from breaking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg
Keywords: shrimp pasta, creamy garlic shrimp, easy pasta recipe, quick dinner, garlic cream sauce, seafood pasta, weeknight meal