Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Pasta
- 12 oz fresh or thawed shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 oz fettuccine noodles
Sauce and Flavorings
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Vegetables
- 3 cups fresh spinach
Instructions
- Prepare the Fettuccine: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the fettuccine according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of pasta water, and set aside.
- Sauté the Shrimp: In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add seasoned shrimp with salt and pepper and cook for approximately 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the Cream Sauce: In the same skillet, pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add lemon juice and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add Spinach and Combine: Stir fresh spinach into the sauce and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet. Gently toss in the cooked fettuccine noodles, coating everything evenly with the creamy sauce. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce to desired consistency.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve the creamy spinach shrimp fettuccine immediately, garnishing with extra Parmesan cheese or freshly chopped herbs if desired.
Notes
- Use fresh or properly thawed shrimp for best texture and flavor.
- Do not overcook shrimp; remove from heat as soon as they turn pink to avoid toughness.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency and help it cling to noodles.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for superior taste and texture compared to pre-grated.
- If sauce is too thick, add a splash of milk or pasta water to achieve perfect creaminess.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Gluten Free (using gluten-free pasta alternative)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg
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