Description
This Garlic Shrimp Pasta is a quick and flavorful dish combining tender shrimp with a creamy garlic parmesan sauce, tossed with al dente linguine. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal or impressing guests with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces linguine pasta
- Salt for pasta water
Shrimp and Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ tablespoons butter (divided)
- 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning (optional, or substitute with smoked paprika or Cajun seasoning)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Sauce
- ½ cup heavy cream (double cream in the UK)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: In a medium-sized saucepan, bring salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Cook Shrimp: Heat 1 tablespoon butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the shrimp and cook for about one minute. Season with salt, pepper, and Old Bay seasoning or your chosen substitute. Continue cooking the shrimp until pink and opaque, cooking in batches if necessary. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Sauce Base: In the same skillet, melt the remaining ½ tablespoon butter. Add minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Make Cream Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and use a spatula to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from cooking the shrimp. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and let it melt into the cream. Loosen the sauce by gradually adding reserved pasta water, then simmer for one minute. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss Pasta and Shrimp: Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss until well coated. Return the cooked shrimp to the pan to gently reheat and combine flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley before serving. Enjoy immediately while warm.
Notes
- For best flavor, use fresh garlic and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- If you prefer a thinner sauce, add more pasta water gradually to reach desired consistency.
- Cook shrimp in batches to avoid overcrowding and ensure even cooking.
- Old Bay seasoning can be substituted with smoked paprika or Cajun seasoning for different flavor profiles.
- Use frozen peeled and deveined shrimp for convenience; thaw completely before cooking.
