Shrimp Pasta with Garlic Cream Sauce Tomatoes and Spinach

This easy Shrimp Pasta with Garlic Cream Sauce Tomatoes and Spinach is comfort food done right! The garlic cream sauce is deliciously rich and creamy.

The actual idea for this Shrimp Pasta with Garlic Cream Sauce, Tomatoes and Spinach comes to you all courtesy of my son Sean. Sean texts me photos every now and then of things he’s whipped up for himself for dinner and most of the time he’s got me drooling.

He made a pasta with a garlic cream sauce a few weeks back that looked incredible. I knew I’d have to share. I decided to add some shrimp, fresh grape tomatoes and spinach to make it more of a hearty meal. I also used a little blackening spice for the shrimp when I sautéed them to give the dish extra flavor.

Step-By-Step Instructions

First, toss your shrimp with some blackening spice. and then add to a skillet and cook for about 3 minutes, flipping halfway through, and then set aside.

Next up, you’ll cook your pasta al dente, and while the pasta is cooking you can make your cream sauce. You’ll melt the butter and add your garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes. Then you will add your flour, followed by the chicken broth, then your heavy cream and tomatoes. Once the sauce is thickened a bit you’ll add your Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper .

Remove from the heat and stir in your shrimp, drained pasta and spinach leaves, tossing everything until heated through the spinach leaves are wilted.

You’re going to love how rich and creamy the garlic cream sauce is, as well as the full on garlic flavor. And you can always use the sauce, but change up the other ingredients to your liking. Add chicken instead of shrimp, or maybe salmon or sausage. Change up the veggies to what you prefer if spinach and tomatoes aren’t your thing. The possibilities are endless.

I don’t know about you, but I can always use another quick and easy pasta sauce and recipe in my arsenal. I guarantee this is going to be one of your go-to sauces. It’s that easy and that good.

Time to break out the stretchy pants and dig in!

Please let me know if you give the recipe a try. And if you have any questions about the recipe, just drop a comment below. Enjoy!

Shrimp Pasta with Garlic Cream Sauce Tomatoes and Spinach

Author: MaryAnn Dwyer

Servings: 4 servings

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This easy Shrimp Pasta with Garlic Cream Sauce Tomatoes and Spinach is comfort food done right! The garlic cream sauce is deliciously rich and creamy.

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Ingredients  

• 1 lb. shrimp, peeled, tail on if desired, deveined
• 1 Tbsp. blackening spice
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 8 oz. cavatelli pasta, or medium sized pasta, like penne
• 4 Tbsp. butter
• 3 large cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 3 cups baby spinach leaves, packed and stems trimmed

Instructions 

• In a large bowl, toss the shrimp with the blackening spice until well coated. Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook for 3 minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
• Cook the pasta in a pot of salted water al dente according to package directions. While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in the skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Whisk in the flour and cook for an additional minute. Whisk in the chicken broth until smooth. Add the heavy cream and tomatoes and continue whisking until the sauce begins to thicken. Add the Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper and whisk until well combined. Remove from the heat.
• Add the shrimp, drained pasta and spinach leaves. Toss until the spinach leaves have wilted. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Notes

I used grape tomatoes, which I halved, but you could also use a can of diced tomatoes, drained.

I love the added spinach, but if you're not a fan, you can just omit, or maybe add another veggie. Broccoli would be delicious. I'd cut the broccoli into small florets and steam until just tender before adding to the pasta.

I used cavatelli pasta for this recipe because I like how some of the sauce gets into the crevices of the pasta.

 

Keyword: blackening spice, grape tomatoes, Pasta, shrimp, spinach

Cuisine: American

Course: Main Dish