This easy Shrimp Scampi Spaghetti is an absolutely delicious pasta recipe with the right balance of savory, tangy, and creamy flavors. It is the perfect recipe to try when you're looking for an easy weeknight dinner that packs in veggies, carbs, and protein. This has to be the best shrimp scampi recipe ever.
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Why This Recipe Works
- Simple: The simplicity of the recipe and its perfect savory flavors are a total hit in my household.
- Kids Love It: I'm actually making this shrimp scampi for dinner tonight, and I'm pretty sure once you give it a try, it'll become a favorite family dinner in your household too.
If you love our shrimp scampi recipe then be sure to try this Bang Bang Shrimp recipe or give the following shrimp dishes a try: Shrimp Cakes With Hot Sauce, Fiery Ginger Garlic Shrimp, Crispy Coconut Shrimp with Orange Marmalade Dip and Shrimp Ceviche.
🥘 Ingredients
To make the shrimp scampi spaghetti, here's what you'll need.
- Spaghetti: The base of the dish, provides a platform for the sauce and shrimp.
- Raw Shrimp: The star ingredient, adding a delicious seafood flavor.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Offer a tangy contrast to the rich sauce.
- Fresh Spinach: Boosts the dish's nutritional value and adds color.
- Heavy Cream: Infuses the dish with a rich, creamy texture.
- Onion: Deepens the flavor profile with its savory notes.
- Garlic: Enhances the dish's overall flavor with its aromatic presence.
- Green Pesto: Serves as a flavorful sauce base, lending a herby punch.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty, nutty finish to the scampi.
- Seasonings: Salt and pepper fine-tune and balance the dish's flavors.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
- Lemon: You can serve the shrimp scampi spaghetti pasta with some lemon wedges on the side.
- Italian Seasoning: You can also add some Italian seasoning into the pasta sauce if you want to.
- Fresh Herbs: Don't forget to top the pasta dish with some chopped fresh parsley and crushed red pepper flakes to add a nice touch of freshness.
🔪 How To Make Shrimp Scampi Spaghetti
Once you have all your ingredients ready, here's what you'll need to do to make the shrimp pasta.
Step One: Wash all your produce. Dice the onion. Mince the garlic. Half the cherry tomatoes.
Step Two: In a large pan, heat olive oil, add diced onions and cook for about 3-5 minutes on medium heat, or until lightly browned. Then add garlic and cook for another minute, or until fragrant, stirring occasionally.
Step Three: Add the peeled shrimp and cook for about 5 minutes, or until light pink. Season with salt and pepper.
Step Four: Then add the pesto, stir until well combined.
Step Five: Add the heavy cream, stir, and let simmer for a few more minutes.
Step Six: Then add the diced cherry tomatoes. Let simmer for 2 minutes on medium high heat. Then add the spinach, cook for 3 more minutes, and remove from heat. Mix the cooked spaghetti in the sauce and divide over 4 serving bowls. Top with parmesan cheese and serve immediately.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
Think you're ready to try out the shrimp scampi spaghetti recipe? Wait up! You might want to keep these little tips and tricks in mind too.
- You can also skip adding the cream and turn it into a nice garlic shrimp dish instead.
- When cooking the pasta, I would highly recommend reserving about a cup of pasta water to add to the sauce.
- To add extra flavor and deliciousness to the pasta, you can use chicken broth instead of salted water to cook the pasta.
- I've used regular salt to season the dish, but remember to taste the dish and adjust seasoning before you serve.
- You can also choose to use kosher salt for the boiling salted water before you add pasta into it.
- I would highly recommend using extra virgin olive oil for this recipe. It really adds that extra flavor to the garlicky sauce.
- Red pepper flakes, lemon juice and some lemon zest can also be wonderful additions to the shrimp scampi pasta. The lemon juice helps tenderize the cooked shrimp and lends a beautiful lemon flavor which balances out the heat from the red pepper flakes.
- To bring some rich flavors to the dish, you can use garlic butter instead of olive oil. Don't forget a dahs of Italian seasoning and some chopped freshly parsley as well.
💭 FAQs
For a balanced flavor and texture, choose medium-large shrimp that have been peeled and deveined. This size allows for a tender bite without overpowering the pasta.
Absolutely. While spaghetti is classic, you can try linguine or even a gluten-free variety if that suits your dietary needs or taste preferences.
Yes, feel free to add extra veggies. Many home cooks toss in cherry tomatoes or even a handful of arugula for a peppery kick alongside the spinach.
Watch them closely! Once the shrimp turn pink and curl slightly, they’re done. Typically, this means cooking them for just a couple of minutes on each side to avoid any rubbery texture.
Your leftover shrimp scampi spaghetti can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
🧂Serving Suggestions
Shrimp scampi is a classic dish bursting with flavor, so it's wonderful to pair it with sides that complement its savory and tangy profile. Here are some delicious options:
- Pizza Garlic Bread: Serve garlic bread on the side to soak up the delicious sauce from the shrimp scampi. You can use crusty Italian Bread or baguette slices, brushed with garlic-infused butter and toasted until golden brown.
- Air Fryer Vegetables: Air fry a medley of vegetables such as Broccoli, Air Fryer Asparagus, and carrots to add freshness and color to the meal. Season them lightly with salt and pepper, or drizzle with a squeeze of lemon juice for extra zing.
- Caesar Chicken Salad: A classic Caesar salad with crisp romaine lettuce, garlic croutons, and tangy Caesar Dressing is a great complement to shrimp scampi. The crunchy texture and bold flavors of the salad provide a nice contrast to the richness of the dish.
- Bruschetta: Serve some Roasted Cherry Tomato Bruschetta as an appetizer or side dish. Top toasted bread slices with a mixture of diced tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.
🍽 Related Recipes
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Easy Shrimp Scampi Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1 lbs Spaghetti
- 1 lbs Raw Shrimp peeled and divined
- 1 pint Cherry Tomato
- 4 oz Fresh Spinach
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 1 Onion
- 1 bulb Garlic
- 2 tablespoon Green Pesto
- Salt to taste
- Black Pepper to taste
- Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot according to the package instructions until al dente.
- Wash all your produce. Dice the onion. Mince the garlic. Half the cherry tomatoes.
- In a large pan, heat olive oil, add diced onions and cook for about 3-5 minutes on medium heat, or until lightly browned.
- Then add garlic and cook for another minute, or until fragrant, stirring occasionally.
- Add the peeled shrimp and cook for about 5 minutes, or until light pink. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the pesto, stir until well combined. Add the heavy cream, stir, and let simmer for a few more minutes.
- Add the diced cherry tomatoes. Let simmer for 2 minutes on medium high heat. Then add the spinach, cook for 3 more minutes, and remove from heat.
- Mix the cooked spaghetti in the sauce and divide over 4 serving bowls. Top with parmesan cheese and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
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This Shrimp Scampi Spaghetti is a weeknight winner—creamy, garlicky, and packed with veggies! I love how the pesto and cherry tomatoes add a fresh twist to the classic scampi. Let me know if you give it a try!