Description
Marry Me Shrimp Pasta is a creamy, savory, and slightly decadent pasta dish featuring juicy shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, and a luscious Parmesan cream sauce. Perfect for date night or a quick weeknight dinner, it comes together in just 30 minutes and is sure to impress.
Ingredients
- 1 pound (16-20 count) shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 8 ounces fettuccine, linguine, or spaghetti
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed), drained and sliced
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Juice and zest from 1/2 lemon
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Toss with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook 1-2 minutes per side, just until pink and opaque. Transfer shrimp to a plate.
- In the same skillet, add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant and softened.
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits. Bring to a simmer. Add heavy cream and stir well. Let sauce bubble gently for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Stir in Parmesan, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
- Add drained pasta and cooked shrimp to the skillet. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and fresh basil or parsley, plus a squeeze of lemon if desired.
Notes
For best results, use raw shrimp and freshly grated Parmesan. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Add extra veggies like spinach or peas for more nutrition. For gluten-free or dairy-free adaptations, use appropriate pasta and cream substitutes. Shrimp cook quickly—remove from heat as soon as they turn pink.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of recipe (1 generous bowl)
- Calories: 575
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 32
Keywords: shrimp pasta, creamy pasta, date night dinner, marry me shrimp, easy shrimp pasta, sun-dried tomato pasta, Italian pasta, seafood pasta, weeknight dinner