Description
Marry Me Shrimp Pasta is a creamy, flavorful seafood pasta dish combining tender shrimp with a rich, dreamy sauce made from heavy cream, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese. Ready in under 30 minutes, this elegant and comforting meal is perfect for quick weeknight dinners or special occasions. It’s versatile, easy to customize, and sure to delight seafood and pasta lovers alike.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Protein
- 1 pound peeled and deveined medium-sized shrimp
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 cloves garlic, freshly minced
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Red pepper flakes, optional, to taste
Herbs and Garnishes
- 1/3 cup fresh basil, chopped
- Additional chopped parsley or basil, for garnish (optional)
Pasta
- 12 ounces fettuccine or linguine pasta
Instructions
- Prepare the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook your chosen pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving one cup of the pasta water for adjusting the sauce consistency.
- Sauté the Shrimp: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook for about 2 minutes on each side until pink and just cooked through. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and keep warm.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: In the same skillet, add freshly minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Cook for about one minute until fragrant. Pour in the heavy cream and simmer gently, letting it thicken slightly. Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Combine and Finish: Add the cooked pasta and the shrimp back into the skillet. Toss everything together carefully to coat evenly in the creamy sauce. Use reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce to your preferred consistency.
- Add Fresh Herbs and Season: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in chopped fresh basil. Taste the dish and adjust the seasoning with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes before serving.
Notes
- Don’t overcook shrimp; they cook quickly and become rubbery if left too long. Watch closely for the perfect pink color.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust the sauce texture without diluting flavor.
- Use fresh garlic for a more vibrant and aromatic base flavor.
- Grate Parmesan cheese fresh to ensure smooth melting and optimal sauce texture.
- Start with a small amount of red pepper flakes and add more to taste to avoid overpowering the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 210mg
Keywords: Shrimp pasta, creamy shrimp pasta, Marry Me Shrimp Pasta, seafood pasta, quick shrimp dinner, creamy seafood sauce, fettuccine with shrimp, easy pasta recipe