Description
Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta is a luscious and flavorful dish featuring tender shrimp cooked in a rich garlic-infused cream sauce, tossed with perfectly al dente pasta. This comforting recipe combines savory Parmesan cheese and a hint of red pepper flakes for a mild kick, finished with fresh parsley for a vibrant touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces pasta
Shrimp and Cooking
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook Pasta: Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions until al dente, usually around 8-10 minutes.
- Heat Oil: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook Shrimp First Side: Once the oil is hot, add the shrimp to the skillet in a single layer.
- Cook Shrimp Second Side: Cook the shrimp for about 2-3 minutes on one side until pink, then flip them over and cook for another 2-3 minutes on the other side.
- Set Aside Shrimp: Remove the cooked shrimp from the skillet and set them aside on a plate.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium and add the minced garlic.
- Cook Garlic: Sauté the garlic for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant and golden brown.
- Add Heavy Cream: Pour in the heavy cream, stirring to combine with the garlic.
- Add Chicken Broth: Add the chicken broth to the skillet and continue to stir.
- Simmer Sauce: Bring the mixture to a simmer, cooking for 3-4 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Add Parmesan Cheese: Stir in the Parmesan cheese, allowing it to melt and incorporate into the sauce.
- Season Sauce: Season the sauce with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, adjusting to taste.
- Add Butter: Add the butter to the skillet and stir until melted and fully incorporated.
- Return Shrimp: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet, stirring to coat them in the creamy sauce.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Drain the cooked pasta and add it directly to the skillet with the shrimp and sauce.
- Toss Pasta: Toss the pasta and shrimp together to combine, ensuring the pasta is well coated in the creamy sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the pasta with freshly chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
- Use freshly peeled and deveined shrimp for best flavor.
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to your spice preference.
- Reserve a bit of pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
- Serve immediately for the creamiest texture.
- Parmesan cheese can be substituted with Pecorino Romano for a sharper taste.
