Description
A rich and creamy shrimp and spinach skillet dish featuring a luscious crab cheese sauce, perfect for a quick and indulgent dinner. The succulent shrimp are sautéed with garlic and spinach, then combined with a creamy blend of cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and tender crab meat, all topped with Parmesan and fresh parsley for a deliciously satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Spinach
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Crab Cheese Sauce
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup cooked crab meat (can use imitation crab if needed)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat Olive Oil and Garlic: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Cook Shrimp: Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side until pink and fully cooked. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- Cook Spinach: In the same skillet, add the chopped spinach. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 2-3 minutes until wilted. If using, sprinkle in the red pepper flakes for a little extra heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Prepare Crab Cheese Sauce: While the spinach is cooking, prepare the crab cheese sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, crab meat, garlic powder, onion powder, and lemon juice. Stir until smooth and well combined.
- Add Sauce to Spinach: Once the spinach is wilted, add the crab cheese sauce to the skillet, stirring to combine with the spinach. Let the sauce simmer over low heat for 2-3 minutes to warm through and meld the flavors.
- Combine Shrimp and Sauce: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet and gently stir to coat them in the creamy crab sauce. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until everything is heated through and the sauce is thickened slightly.
- Add Parmesan and Garnish: Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top of the dish and let it melt into the sauce. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
- Serve: Serve the shrimp and spinach with creamy crab cheese over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread to soak up the sauce. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute imitation crab meat if fresh crab is not available.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred heat level or omit for a milder dish.
- For a lower-fat version, use reduced-fat cream cheese and mayonnaise.
- Serve with your choice of starch like pasta, rice, or crusty bread to complement the creamy sauce.
- To make it dairy-free, substitute cream cheese and sour cream with plant-based alternatives, and omit Parmesan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
