Description
This Garlic Shrimp Pasta recipe is a quick and flavorful dish perfect for weeknight dinners. Featuring tender linguine pasta tossed in a creamy garlic and Parmesan sauce, complemented by succulent sautéed shrimp seasoned with Old Bay or smoked paprika, it combines rich flavors with simple preparation for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 ounces linguine pasta
- 1 teaspoon salt (for boiling water)
Shrimp
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ tablespoons butter (divided)
- 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (frozen is fine)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning (optional - or smoked paprika or Cajun seasoning)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Sauce
- ½ cup heavy cream (double cream in the UK)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil and salt it generously. Add the linguine pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Cook Shrimp: Heat 1 tablespoon butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the shrimp and cook for one minute. Season with salt, pepper, and Old Bay seasoning or paprika if using. Continue cooking until shrimp turn pink, cooking in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding. Remove shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- Make Sauce: In the same skillet, melt remaining ½ tablespoon butter. Add minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the heavy cream and use a spatula to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits.
- Add Cheese and Adjust Sauce: Stir in grated Parmesan cheese and let it melt into the sauce. Slowly add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce, simmering for about a minute. Taste the sauce and add more salt or pepper if needed.
- Toss Pasta: Add cooked pasta to the sauce and toss thoroughly until well coated.
- Combine and Serve: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet and gently reheat with the pasta and sauce. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
- Using frozen shrimp is convenient and works well; just thaw before cooking.
- Old Bay seasoning adds a classic seafood flavor, but smoked paprika or Cajun seasoning are tasty alternatives.
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency without diluting flavor.
- Cook shrimp just until pink to avoid rubbery texture.
- Garnish with parsley for freshness and color.
