Description
This Shrimp Scampi Pasta Bake combines succulent shrimp, creamy garlic butter sauce, and al dente pasta for a comforting and flavorful dish. Topped with a crispy golden crust, it’s an easy yet impressive meal that’s perfect for dinner or special occasions!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta Bake:
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, or ziti work well)
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Topping:
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until they are pink and opaque. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set them aside.
- Pour the white wine (or chicken broth) into the skillet and let it cook for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly. Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, and cook for another 2 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat in the creamy garlic sauce. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Stir in the cooked shrimp and half of the chopped parsley.
- Transfer the pasta and shrimp mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a small bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the pasta.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden and crispy.
- Garnish with the remaining fresh parsley before serving. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- For extra creaminess, you can add more heavy cream or some cream cheese to the sauce.
- You can substitute the shrimp with chicken or even add both for a surf and turf variation.
- This dish can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator before baking. Just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if it’s cold from the fridge.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6th of recipe
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 195mg