If you’re craving a restaurant-quality dinner at home, this Ultimate Creamy Seafood Pasta delivers every time. Tender shrimp, buttery garlic sauce, and perfectly cooked spaghetti come together in one pan for a rich, satisfying meal.
This creamy seafood pasta is packed with flavor from Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and fresh herbs. It’s quick enough for weeknights but impressive enough for guests.
Table of Contents
Ultimate Creamy Seafood Pasta
This creamy seafood pasta features tender shrimp, garlic butter sauce, and Italian seasonings for a quick and satisfying dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
Ingredients
- 1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 6–8 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- Salt to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Bring salted water to a boil and cook spaghetti until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water and drain.
- Pat shrimp dry. Melt butter with olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Cook shrimp 2–3 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove from skillet.
- Sauté garlic briefly, then return shrimp to skillet.
- Add cooked pasta, seasonings, and 1/4 cup reserved pasta water.
- Toss until coated, adding more pasta water as needed. Garnish and serve.
Notes
Add Parmesan for extra flavor. Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1¼ cups
- Calories: 620
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 68 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg
Recipe: Ultimate Creamy Seafood Pasta
Ingredients
Seafood
- 1 pound (450 g) medium shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails removed
Pasta
- 1 pound (450 g) spaghetti, uncooked
Aromatics
- 6–8 garlic cloves, finely minced
Fats
- 4 tablespoons (60 ml) unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼–½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Fine sea salt, to taste
Herbs
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or basil, chopped (optional)
Optional Finishing Touch
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta
Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 9–11 minutes. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain and set aside. - Prepare the shrimp
Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. This helps them sear instead of steam. - Cook the shrimp
In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the shrimp in a single layer. Cook for 2–3 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from the pan and set aside to avoid overcooking. - Sauté the garlic
In the same skillet, add another tablespoon of olive oil if needed. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30–60 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly so it doesn’t burn. - Combine everything
Return the shrimp to the skillet. Add the cooked pasta, Italian seasoning, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and salt. Pour in ¼ cup reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce. Toss everything together over medium heat, adding more pasta water a little at a time until the sauce coats the noodles beautifully. - Finish and serve
Sprinkle with chopped fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese if desired. Drizzle lightly with extra virgin olive oil before serving.
Recipe Details
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Serving Size: About 1¼ cups
Notes and Variations
Make it creamier
For a richer creamy garlic shrimp pasta, stir in ½ cup heavy cream or a splash of half-and-half before adding the pasta.
Add vegetables
Spinach, cherry tomatoes, or sautéed mushrooms pair beautifully with this seafood pasta recipe.
Use different seafood
Swap half the shrimp for scallops or lump crab for a mixed seafood pasta version.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating tip
Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of water or broth to restore the creamy texture.
Make-ahead tip
Cook the shrimp and refrigerate separately. Prepare fresh pasta and combine just before serving for the best texture.
Nutrition (Approximate Per Serving)
Calories: 620
Protein: 38g
Carbohydrates: 68g
Fat: 22g
Fiber: 3g
Cholesterol: 220mg
Sodium: 480mg
FAQs (GAQs)
How do I keep shrimp from getting rubbery in seafood pasta?
Shrimp cook very quickly and can turn rubbery if overcooked. For the best creamy seafood pasta, cook shrimp just until they turn pink and opaque, usually 2–3 minutes per side. Remove them from the pan while finishing the sauce to prevent overcooking. Adding them back at the end keeps them tender. Using medium shrimp also helps maintain better texture than very small shrimp.
Can I use frozen shrimp for creamy garlic shrimp pasta?
Yes, frozen shrimp work perfectly for this shrimp pasta recipe. Make sure they are fully thawed and patted dry before cooking. Excess moisture can water down your buttery garlic sauce. Look for raw, deveined shrimp for the best flavor and texture. Avoid precooked shrimp since reheating can make them tough.
What pasta works best for seafood pasta recipes?
Spaghetti is classic, but linguine and fettuccine also work beautifully. Long noodles hold onto the creamy garlic sauce and shrimp well. Short pasta like penne can be used, but the sauce may not coat it as evenly. For a more elegant presentation, linguine is often preferred in Italian seafood pasta dishes.
Can I make this pasta without butter?
Yes, you can substitute butter with additional olive oil for a lighter shrimp pasta dish. However, butter adds richness and depth to the sauce. If you want a dairy-free option, use high-quality extra virgin olive oil and a squeeze of lemon for brightness. The result will be slightly less creamy but still flavorful.
How do I thicken seafood pasta sauce without cream?
Reserved pasta water is the secret to a silky sauce. The starch in the water helps bind the butter and olive oil into a light sauce. Toss the pasta vigorously in the skillet to emulsify everything together. You can also add a small amount of grated Parmesan, which naturally thickens the seafood pasta sauce.
Love this recipe? Try one of these next!
Rasta Pasta – Creamy Caribbean-Inspired Pasta
Crab Cake Sauce Recipe for Seafood Lovers
Fishcake and Scallop Stir-Fry Recipe
Air Fryer Shrimp and Broccoli (Easy Weeknight Dinner).
If you’re a visual learner, this quick video will help you nail the texture and timing.
Watch it here: quick dinner recipes and easy seafood pasta ideas.