Description
This Baked Shrimp Scampi Pasta features tender shrimp and perfectly cooked pasta baked in a creamy garlic butter sauce with rich cheeses for a comforting and flavorful meal that’s easy to prepare in under an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Pasta
- 4 oz uncooked pasta (any shape)
- ½ lb raw shrimp, thawed and peeled
Sauce
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 tsp jarred minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- ⅛ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp pepper
- 1 egg (slightly beaten)
- ⅛ cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
- ¼ cup ricotta cheese
Topping
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 1 tsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the assembled pasta dish.
- Cook Pasta: Boil the pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Melt Butter: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter to create the base of the sauce.
- Add Garlic and Flour: Stir in the minced garlic and flour, cooking the mixture until it becomes bubbly to form a roux that will thicken the sauce.
- Incorporate Liquids and Seasoning: Gradually add the whole milk, chicken broth, salt, and pepper to the saucepan, stirring continuously to avoid lumps, and cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine Egg and Cheeses: Whisk the slightly beaten egg with Parmesan and ricotta cheeses, then blend this cheese mixture into the warm sauce off the heat to avoid scrambling the egg.
- Mix Sauce with Pasta and Shrimp: Toss the cooked pasta and peeled shrimp into the sauce mixture ensuring everything is coated evenly.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the combined mixture into two prepared baking dishes, sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese on top, and bake in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the shrimp are cooked through.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired, and serve hot for a deliciously creamy and savory shrimp pasta bake.
Notes
- Use any pasta shape you prefer; penne, rigatoni, or rotini work well to hold the sauce.
- If you prefer, substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth for a slightly different flavor.
- Make sure shrimp are fully thawed and peeled before mixing in the sauce to ensure even cooking.
- For a richer sauce, you can add a splash more milk or cream as needed.
- Keep a close eye on the baking time to prevent overcooking the shrimp and drying out the pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
