Creamy Garlic Shrimp Scampi Pasta
Creamy Garlic Shrimp Scampi Pasta
Ingredients
- 360 g shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 38 g garlic, finely chopped (about 8–10 cloves)
- 140 g dry spaghetti
- 1/3 cup chicken stock, or chicken bouillon mixed with water
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- 5 g fresh parsley, chopped
- Parmesan cheese, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- lemon juice, squeeze of
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Drain the spaghetti and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
While the pasta cooks, pat the peeled and deveined shrimp dry with paper towels. In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika until evenly coated.
⏱️ 3 min
- 3
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned shrimp and sear for about 2 minutes per side, or until fully cooked and opaque. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside.
⏱️ 4 min
- 4
Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter to the same skillet. Once the butter is melted, add the finely chopped garlic and sauté for 30-60 seconds, stirring frequently, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Pour in the chicken stock and use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, incorporating them into the sauce.
⏱️ 1 min
- 6
Stir in the heavy cream and let the sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it has slightly thickened.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Add a handful of Parmesan cheese to the sauce and stir until it is melted and smooth. Squeeze in some lemon juice to taste.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Add the cooked spaghetti to the sauce in the skillet. Pour in some of the reserved pasta water and toss until the sauce coats the pasta. Add more pasta water as needed to achieve your desired sauce consistency.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
Return the cooked shrimp to the pan with the pasta and sauce. Toss everything together for 1 minute to warm the shrimp through.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Stir in the chopped fresh parsley. Taste and add additional salt and pepper as needed, keeping in mind that if your pasta water was salted, the sauce may already be sufficiently seasoned.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Garlic Shrimp Scampi Pasta
- 360 g shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 38 g garlic, finely chopped (about 8–10 cloves)
- 140 g dry spaghetti
- 1/3 cup chicken stock, or chicken bouillon mixed with water
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- 5 g fresh parsley, chopped
- Parmesan cheese, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- lemon juice, squeeze of
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Drain the spaghetti and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
While the pasta cooks, pat the peeled and deveined shrimp dry with paper towels. In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika until evenly coated.
⏱️ 3 min - 3
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned shrimp and sear for about 2 minutes per side, or until fully cooked and opaque. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside.
⏱️ 4 min - 4
Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter to the same skillet. Once the butter is melted, add the finely chopped garlic and sauté for 30-60 seconds, stirring frequently, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Pour in the chicken stock and use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, incorporating them into the sauce.
⏱️ 1 min - 6
Stir in the heavy cream and let the sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it has slightly thickened.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Add a handful of Parmesan cheese to the sauce and stir until it is melted and smooth. Squeeze in some lemon juice to taste.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Add the cooked spaghetti to the sauce in the skillet. Pour in some of the reserved pasta water and toss until the sauce coats the pasta. Add more pasta water as needed to achieve your desired sauce consistency.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
Return the cooked shrimp to the pan with the pasta and sauce. Toss everything together for 1 minute to warm the shrimp through.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Stir in the chopped fresh parsley. Taste and add additional salt and pepper as needed, keeping in mind that if your pasta water was salted, the sauce may already be sufficiently seasoned.
⏱️ 1 min