Description

Creamy Marry Me Shrimp Pasta is a luxurious yet easy-to-make dish that combines succulent shrimp with a rich, velvety cream sauce infused with garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. Ready in under 30 minutes, this elegant pasta offers a perfect balance of bold flavors, comforting textures, and impressive presentation, ideal for special occasions or a delightful weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Shrimp and Protein

1 lb fresh or thawed, peeled and deveined shrimp

Pasta

8 oz fettuccine or linguine

Aromatics and Flavorings

3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (plus extra to taste)

Sauce Components

1 cup heavy cream
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Herbs and Fats

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons fresh basil or parsley, chopped

Seasonings

Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Prepare the Shrimp: Season the peeled and deveined shrimp with salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat, then add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and just cooked through. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside to keep warm.
Sauté the Aromatics: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté until fragrant and slightly softened, releasing the essential flavors that form the base of your sauce.
Create the Cream Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream, stirring well to combine with the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. Allow it to simmer gently to thicken, then stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth, creating that luscious cream sauce.
Cook the Pasta: While the sauce simmers, cook the fettuccine or linguine in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain carefully and reserve a small cup of pasta water in case you want to loosen the sauce later.
Combine and Finish: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet and toss everything together with the drained pasta. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if the sauce needs thinning. Finish by stirring in fresh chopped basil or parsley for a burst of color and freshness.

Notes

Use fresh shrimp for the best texture and flavor; fully thaw frozen shrimp before cooking.
Don’t overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture; cook just until pink and opaque.
Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency and help it cling to the noodles.
Stir gently when combining pasta and shrimp to keep shrimp intact and coat everything evenly with sauce.
Always use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for optimal melting and flavor.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Sautéing
Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 520 kcal
Sugar: 3 g
Sodium: 520 mg
Fat: 30 g
Saturated Fat: 15 g
Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 40 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 32 g
Cholesterol: 210 mg

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