Description
Creamy Marry Me Shrimp Pasta is a luscious and flavorful dish featuring tender shrimp sautéed in a rich, garlicky cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan cheese, tossed with perfectly cooked linguine or spaghetti. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s an indulgent yet easy meal perfect for a weeknight dinner or special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz linguine or spaghetti
Shrimp
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Sauce
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the linguine or spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water, then set pasta aside.
- Sauté shrimp: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the peeled and deveined shrimp with salt and pepper. Cook the shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side until they turn pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté garlic: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Prepare sauce: Add heavy cream, chicken broth, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and optional crushed red pepper flakes to the skillet with garlic. Simmer the sauce for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly.
- Toss pasta in sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss it gently in the sauce. Pour in reserved pasta water gradually as needed to reach the desired consistency and ensure the pasta is well coated.
- Combine shrimp with pasta: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet and stir everything together. Cook for an additional 2 minutes to heat through and meld flavors.
- Season and serve: Taste the pasta and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve the creamy shrimp pasta warm.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth for a slightly different flavor.
- For a spicier dish, increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- If sun-dried tomatoes are not available, you can use fresh cherry tomatoes, sautéed briefly before adding the cream.
- To keep the shrimp tender, avoid overcooking; cook just until they turn pink and opaque.
- Reserve pasta water is key to achieving a smooth, silky sauce—add it gradually.
- Use fresh Parmesan cheese for the best melting and flavor.
