Description
Looking for quick dinner ideas with a seafood twist? This Shrimp Scampi Pasta Bake is a creamy, garlicky comfort food classic, loaded with juicy shrimp and melty cheese. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, easy meal prep, or a cozy gathering, it combines the bold flavors of traditional shrimp scampi with the hearty satisfaction of baked pasta. If you love easy recipes and crave new food ideas for family meals, add this one to your list of dinner ideas—it’s always a crowd-pleaser!
Ingredients
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
12 ounces rigatoni or penne pasta
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a large casserole dish.
2. Cook pasta in salted boiling water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet, melt butter with olive oil over medium-high heat. Add shrimp, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 2–3 minutes until just pink. Remove shrimp and set aside.
4. Add minced garlic to skillet; sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Pour in chicken broth, lemon zest, and juice; simmer for 2 minutes.
6. Stir in heavy cream and 1 cup mozzarella plus all the Parmesan. Mix until cheese melts and sauce is smooth.
7. Combine cooked pasta and sauce in a large bowl. Fold in shrimp and parsley.
8. Spread mixture into prepared casserole dish. Top with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella.
9. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
10. Garnish with extra parsley and serve hot.
Notes
For the creamiest texture, don’t overcook the pasta before baking.
Use fresh shrimp for the best flavor, but thawed frozen shrimp works too.
Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for a little heat if desired.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American/Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/7th of recipe
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 990mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 203mg
Keywords: shrimp scampi pasta bake, easy dinner, seafood casserole, baked pasta, family meal, quick dinner, comfort food