Creamy Shrimp Pasta
My creamy shrimp pasta is decadent, divine, and oh-so-delicious! Herbs and garlic come together with cream and shrimp in an unforgettable pasta dish that is quick to make—whether it’s a romantic stay-in date night or a family dinner.
Are you dreading the question, “What’s for dinner?” I feel ya! This creamy shrimp pasta recipe is a lifesaver when I struggle with dinner ideas because it’s fast and tastes like a 5-star restaurant meal!
My son isn’t too keen on shrimp, so lucky me gets to feast on his share while he gobbles up all the pasta. And hubby always comes back for seconds, so there’s no doubt this pasta dish is a winner in my family.
Why Cream Makes Pasta Better
Does heavy cream sound off alarms in your head? There’s so much controversy about what’s good for us and what’s not that I say we stop stressing ourselves and enjoy our food. So after making this for a while, I switched things up by adding cream and tomato paste to make it more comforting, creamy, and elegant—like a fancy schmancy restaurant, and it worked beautifully.
How to Make Creamy Shrimp Pasta
- Boil the pasta in a large pot according to the box instructions. Drain and set aside. (Photo 1)
- Prep seasonings while the pasta is cooking. (Photo 2)
- Season shrimp with salt, pepper, and Creole seasoning. Then sauté them over medium heat for 3-5 minutes or until lightly cooked, and set aside. (Photos 3-4)
- Add the paprika, thyme, and oregano. Stir the mixture for about a minute or until fragrant. (Photo 5)
- Stir in the tomato paste, cream, milk, lemon juice, and chicken broth. Heat it to a boil and simmer for 5-7 minutes. (Photos 6-8)
- Assemble: Stir the pasta into the sauce, allowing your pasta to soak up some of the sauce. (Photo 9)
- Add the shrimp along with the parsley and stir. Add cheese (if using). Stir for about a minute, and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Add more chicken broth if needed. Enjoy! (Photo 10)
Recipe Variations and Tips
- Add your favorite mushrooms or sun-dried tomatoes for more flavor and texture, as they’re a fantastic addition to any cream-based pasta dish.
- Take the salty richness of your creamy shrimp pasta dish to the next level by adding bacon. The distinct flavors of bacon and shrimp complement each other really well.
- If you’re a real cheese lover, add some Parmesan or mozzarella to create a scrumptious, decadent, cheesy shrimp pasta dish.
- Instead of adding salt directly to the creamy sauce, salt your pasta after draining. This will enhance the flavor of the pasta and make for a well-rounded taste experience.
- Start checking your pasta for doneness shortly before it should be ready to ensure it doesn’t overcook.
Make-Ahead and Leftovers
For a stress-free dinner:
- Make the shrimp, sauce, and pasta ahead and store them in the fridge separately (2-3 days).
- Heat the sauce in a skillet, add the cooked pasta and shrimp, and stir until heated through. It may need a splash of broth if it’s too dry.
- Top with Parmesan, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a sprinkle of parsley.
You can store leftovers in the fridge for up to four days. Freezing is not recommended, though it will work if you don’t mind the change in texture.
FAQs
All of it! Scallops, lobster, and crab are delicious choices for creamy seafood pasta.
Absolutely yes! But you’ll want to adjust the cooking method to the type of noodles.
Rice and starch noodles don’t need much time (sometimes it’s enough to pour boiling water over them and let them set for a few minutes, so check the package instructions), and don’t rinse them after.
Cook Korean sweet potato noodles (japchae) until translucent, then rinse off the excess starch so they don’t stick together. Quinoa, chickpea, and buckwheat pasta also need to be rinsed as soon as they come out of the water. Be careful not to overcook them as they get mushy fast.
Yes, you can. It will be less creamy, but it will still be awesome. So don’t let not having cream stop you from enjoying this deliciousness.
What to Serve With Creamy Shrimp Pasta
Sautéed spinach, a tossed salad, or spicy roast garlic broccoli add some greens and balance the dish’s richness. And there’s nothing like a glass of semi-sweet or dry white wine to go with delicious shrimp pasta.
More Decadent Pasta Dishes to Try
By Imma
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”26K2ZWMq” upload-date=”Mon Aug 06 2018 19:52:04 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)” name=”Creamy Shrimp Pasta” description=”Creamy Shrimp Pasta – Pasta smothered in a creamy sauce infused with garlic and herbs & tossed through with Juicy shrimp. Spicy, Buttery, Creamy Shrimp and pasta ready in 30 minutes.”]
This blog post was initially published in December 2014 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.
Creamy Shrimp Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (250g) spaghetti (or other pasta)
- 1 pound (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- salt and pepper to taste
- ¾ teaspoon (3-4g) Creole seasoning (see notes)
- 2 ounces (60g) unsalted butter or more (olive oil also works)
- 2 teaspoons (10g) minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon (1-2g) paprika
- 1 teaspoon (1g) fresh thyme, minced (⅓ teaspoon dried)
- 1 teaspoon (1-2g) fresh oregano, minced (⅓ teaspoon dried)
- 1 teaspoon (5g) tomato paste (optional, but highly recommended)
- ½ cup (120ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120ml) milk
- ½ cup (120ml) chicken stock
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 2 tablespoons (7-8g) chopped parsley
- ½ cup (60g) Parmigiano Reggiano
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil pasta in a large pot according to the box instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Lightly season shrimp with salt, pepper, and Creole seasoning.
- Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil or butter over medium heat in a skillet. Sauté the shrimp for 3-5 minutes or until lightly cooked, and set aside.
- Add the butter and garlic to the skillet. Next, add paprika, thyme, and oregano. Stir the mixture for about a minute or until fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato paste, followed by the cream, milk, lemon juice, and chicken stock. Heat it to a boil and simmer for 5-7 minutes.
- Add cheese (if using). Stir for about a minute, and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Add more chicken broth if needed.
- Bring it to a boil, then simmer for about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir the pasta into the sauce, allowing your pasta to soak up some of the sauce. Add the shrimp, garnish with parsley, and stir. Enjoy!
Tips & Notes:
- Salt the pasta water until it tastes like the ocean.
- Feel free to add more cream or replace part of the milk with cream for a more decadent sauce.
- Italian, blackened, and seafood seasonings are a great substitute for Creole if you’d like a flavor swap.
- Start checking your pasta for doneness shortly before it should be ready to ensure it doesn’t overcook. Residual heat will finish it after assembling.
- Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
Absolutely delicious!! I doubled the cream, milk and chicken broth because I always love adding extra sauce to my pasta and I am so glad I did because the original sauce measurements are only if your family is only having 1 serving, all of us had seconds that’s how delicious it is! Creamy, spicy, so good! I added a bit of pepper flakes and cayenne to make it a little more spicy yum! Enjoy
Awesome!!! I’m so happy you and your family loved it. And thanks for the suggestions. I always love seeing the tweaks.
This was absolutely delicious but it curdled alittle. What did u do wrong? Of course it happened as soon as I put the lemon in it.
I tried this before for the very first time , and it’s a Bomb! My kids really loves it! Now I’m making today again for my mom’s birthday instead of shrimp I will use clams / chopped clams in cans using linguine pasta! Those herbs really compliment each other. We love it with lots of squeezed lemons! Yummy! So delish it’s really a keeper! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I really appreciate it! Godbless!
Hi Eileen!
I’m thrilled to hear that the creamy shrimp pasta was a big hit with your kids and that you’re adapting it for your mom’s birthday with clams and linguine! It’s wonderful how versatile the recipe is and how well it adapts to different seafood. The addition of lots of lemon juice sounds like a fantastic touch to brighten up the flavors.
It’s great that the herbs are working their magic in the dish, bringing everything together beautifully. Thank you for sharing your experience and for choosing this recipe for such a special occasion. Wishing your mom a very happy birthday, and may your meal be as delightful as your celebration! Enjoy and God bless!
Hello Can i make this with any type of pasta .can i use the same as in your chicken Rasta pasta to do a shrimp one
Absolutely, use your favorite pasta and have a blast. Woohoo, do not forget to share how it goes. Thank you!
Simple and full of flavor! 🙂
This turned out amazing, too bad I don’t see how to put up a picture. My husband is the cook so I mostly watched. He added extra creole seasoning and red pepper flakes. But I am stuffed and this was an amazing new meal for us. Thank you so much,Crystal
That is awesome, Crystal! I’m glad it all turned out well for you guys. This is actually one of my go-to dinner recipes. 😉
i have never seen a yummier creamy herb shrimp spaghetti pasta!
Thank you, Monika :).
Always a crowd pleaser. Thank you so much for sharing, girl!
xox
It sure is . Thank you
Excellent recipe and super easy. The whole family love it. Followed the recipe to the dot.
Very good, we enjoyed this. I didn’t veer from the recipe and I am not a fan of oregano, but it worked very well. Instead of fresh herbs, zI used 1/3 tsp of dried thyme and oregano. I didn’t have to add salt to the sauce because the stock has enough.
Look forward to trying more of you recipes.
This was so delicious! Made it for my son and his pescatarian girlfriend, served it with a fresh arugula salad. Lots of compliments from them and my husband throughout the dinner. Will definitely make this over and over again!
I found this recipe over the summer and it’s INCREDIBLE, quickly become one of our favorites. It’s bright and decadent, and I tend to keep most of these ingredients stocked. I add red pepper flakes for heat.
So excited to try some more of your recipes!
So good! I added a little cream cheese to thicken the sauce. Calories schmalories!
Just made this for a friends potluck for new years and it was a hit! Will be making this again and again. Only modification was that I added an additional tsp of red chili powder for a kick.
Love love that additional red chili powder. 😉 Thank you for dropping by, Farishtay. Happy New Year!
for an asian american family, not fans of heavy sauces, this was amazing. i looked up several options of recipes and your site address caught my eye. thank you for posting this. your recipe was super easy to follow and delicious beyond belief!
Thank you as well for taking the time to let me know. Happy holidays!
Very good!!! Thank you!
This!! Was incredible. Had it this evening with my boyfriend… we both had seconds!
Wohooo! Glad you both liked it, Sam. And thank you for dropping by.
Thanks. Turned out great. Hubby loved it. The sauce was excellent. Will add this to my other great recipes.
Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know, Sheila! 🙂
I see some wonderful reviews. No one mentioned it but this isn’t exactly what I would consider a quick meal. This dish may take some shopping!
I absolutely loved this recipe. It was very tasty and easy to follow. My fiancé who is very picky ate his whole plate. Thank you for sharing!!
Yaay! Doing a happy dance now. 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, Kaydee!