Description
A creamy, delicious Shrimp Scampi Pasta Bake with a rich scampi sauce, perfect for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook the pasta – Start by boiling the penne pasta in salted water according to the package instructions. Cook it just until al dente since it will continue cooking in the oven. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the shrimp – In a large skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about a minute until fragrant. The smell of garlic sizzling in butter is the moment when the kitchen begins to feel especially inviting.
- Add the shrimp, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Cook for about 2–3 minutes until the shrimp turn pink. Remove them from the pan and set aside.
- Build the scampi sauce – In the same skillet, pour in the chicken broth, lemon juice, lemon zest, and heavy cream. Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes so the flavors meld together into a creamy, garlicky base.
- Combine pasta and shrimp – Add the cooked pasta and shrimp back into the skillet. Toss gently so everything becomes coated in the rich scampi sauce.
- Assemble the bake – Transfer the mixture into a greased baking dish. Sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan evenly across the top.
- Bake until golden – Place the dish in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C). Bake for 15–20 minutes until the cheese melts and becomes lightly golden.
- Finish and serve – Remove the Shrimp Scampi Pasta Bake from the oven and sprinkle fresh parsley on top. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving so the sauce thickens slightly.
Notes
- This dish can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator before baking.
- Feel free to add more vegetables like spinach or bell peppers to the dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 25g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 150mg