Description
Marry Me Shrimp Pasta is a creamy, flavorful Italian-inspired dish featuring tender shrimp cooked in a rich sauce of tomato paste, sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese, tossed with perfectly al dente pasta. This easy one-skillet recipe combines garlic, shallots, and fresh herbs for a deliciously comforting meal that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Grains & Pasta
- 12 ounces pasta such as penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine
Shrimp
- 1 pound medium or large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small shallot or 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for pasta water
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice, optional
Cheese
- Extra Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Prepare the Shrimp: Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Season them with salt and black pepper evenly on both sides.
- Cook the Shrimp: Heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until they turn pink and are lightly golden. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside to prevent overcooking.
- Sauté Aromatics: Lower the heat to medium. In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and sauté the finely chopped shallot for 2 to 3 minutes until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add Tomato Paste and Spices: Stir in the tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 1 minute until the tomato paste darkens slightly and releases its flavor.
- Incorporate Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Broth: Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the pan. Pour in the chicken broth, using a spoon to scrape up any flavorful browned bits stuck to the bottom of the skillet.
- Create Creamy Sauce: Reduce the heat to low and pour in the heavy cream. Stir continuously until the sauce is smooth. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and the sauce reaches a creamy consistency.
- Reheat Shrimp: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet and warm through gently for about 1 minute.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss thoroughly until the pasta is fully coated with the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it to your desired consistency.
- Finish and Serve: Stir in the chopped fresh basil or parsley and lemon juice if using. Serve the pasta warm, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese on top.
Notes
- For a spicier dish, increase the red pepper flakes to taste.
- Using fresh shrimp gives the best flavor and texture, but frozen shrimp can be used if thawed properly.
- You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth for a lighter flavor.
- If you prefer a lower-fat version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream and reduce butter to 1 tablespoon.
- Make sure not to overcook the shrimp to keep them tender and juicy.
- Freshly grated Parmesan is recommended for better melt and flavor compared to pre-grated varieties.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Shrimp pasta, creamy shrimp pasta, Marry Me Shrimp Pasta, Italian shrimp recipe, pasta with shrimp and cream sauce
