Description
This Creamy Garlic Shrimp recipe delivers a rich, garlicky cream sauce enveloping tender, quickly seared shrimp. Ready in just 15 minutes using just one pan, it’s perfect for busy weeknights or when you want a gourmet-feeling meal with minimal effort. Serve it with pasta, rice, or crusty bread for an indulgent and satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp
- 1 lb (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
Sauce
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced or pureed
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (or white wine)
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Season the Shrimp: In a bowl, toss the shrimp with paprika, salt, and black pepper until well coated.
- Sear the Shrimp: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the seasoned shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes, flipping to cook both sides until shrimp turn opaque and are cooked through. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add Broth and Reduce: Stir in chicken broth or white wine and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly and concentrate the flavor.
- Add Cream and Cheese: Pour in the heavy cream and stir well. Add Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes if using. Continue to simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Combine & Heat Through: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet and coat them in the creamy sauce. Simmer on low heat for another 2 minutes to heat through and meld flavors.
- Garnish & Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top. Serve immediately with pasta, rice, or crusty bread to complete the meal.
Notes
- For a lighter sauce, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half.
- Feel free to add vegetables such as onions, bell peppers, or sun-dried tomatoes for added texture and flavor.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level or omit for no heat.
- If you don’t have chicken broth, white wine or even vegetable broth works well as a substitute.
- This recipe is perfect for weeknights as it cooks in one pan and only takes about 15 minutes total.