16 Easy & Elegant Shrimp Pasta Recipes

Simple, super quick to prepare, and impressively elegant, shrimp pasta recipes are a must-have in your weekly dinner repertoire if you love dishes that are totally fuss-free but restaurant worthy! In this collection, I’m sharing 16 of my favorite easy shrimp pasta dishes that you can have on the table in around 20 minutes or less, and are perfect for everything from a midweek meal to a dinner party worthy main course. 

They all feel a little bit special and I absolutely love preparing them with a glass of wine in hand on those evenings when I’m the mood for something a little sophisticated. I think you’ll love them too! 

A few quick tips before we jump into the recipes:

• Don’t Overcook the Shrimp: Shrimp cook quickly—around just 2 minutes per side is often enough, obviously dependent on their size. Look for them to turn pink and opaque; overcooking makes them rubbery. In the past I’ve ruined plenty of dishes by overcooking shrimp, so this is definitely something to be mindful of! 
• Use Fresh or Properly Thawed Shrimp: If using frozen shrimp, thaw them completely before cooking for even results. Pat them dry with paper towels to avoid any excess water in your dish.
• Season the Shrimp: Toss shrimp with salt and pepper before cooking to enhance their flavor.
• Save Your Pasta Water: I mention in this in the recipes where relevant, but it’s worth a mention up front as it can be super easy to forget when you’re in the middle of preparing your dinner. Pasta water is a fantastic ingredient for loosening up your sauce if you need to, and it’s good practice to get into the habit of reserving some in case you need it later. 
• Garnish for Extra Flavor: This is forever one of my favorite tips for making almost any dish just look that extra bit special and more Insta-worthy! Fresh herbs, like parsley or basil, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese elevate shrimp pasta dishes beautifully and just take your presentation up a notch without any extra effort.

Ready to get cooking? Let’s get going… 

1. Creamy Tuscan Shrimp Linguine

This Creamy Tuscan Shrimp Linguine is indulgent, packed with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and a rich, garlicky cream sauce. Perfect if you love simple pasta dinners that are big on flavor. 

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz linguine
• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 2 cups fresh spinach

Instructions:

1. Cook linguine according to package instructions. Drain and set aside, reserving a cup of pasta water.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet and sauté shrimp until cooked. Remove and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, sauté garlic, then stir in cream, Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach. Simmer until the sauce thickens. If you like, you can add in the reserved pasta water to achieve your desired consistency. 
4. Toss linguine and shrimp with the sauce. Serve warm with extra Parmesan.

2. Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

Simple yet flavorful, this Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta is a buttery, garlicky dream topped with fresh parsley. A beautiful choice if you want something easy that lets the shrimp really shine. 

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz spaghetti
• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• Juice of 1 lemon

Instructions:

1. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. Melt butter in a skillet and sauté garlic until fragrant. Add shrimp and cook until done.
3. Toss spaghetti with shrimp, garlic butter, and parsley. Squeeze lemon juice on top and serve immediately.

3. Tomato and Spinach Shrimp Pasta

This light and fresh Tomato and Spinach Shrimp Pasta is perfect for when you want something flavorful and fresh without being too heavy.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz penne pasta
• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Instructions:

1. Cook penne according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet. Sauté garlic and cherry tomatoes until softened. Add spinach and cook until wilted.
3. Stir in shrimp and cook until done. Toss with penne and Parmesan before serving.

4. Cajun Shrimp Pasta

Spicy and creamy, this Cajun Shrimp Pasta is a one-pot wonder with bold flavors that’ll have you coming back for seconds! If you like things extra spicy, you can add some red pepper flakes just before serving. 

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz fettuccine
• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions

Instructions:

1. Toss shrimp with Cajun seasoning.
2. Cook fettuccine according to package instructions. Drain and set aside, reserving some of the pasta water. 
3. Heat olive oil in a skillet and sauté shrimp until cooked. Remove and set aside.
4. Add cream and Parmesan to the skillet, stirring until thickened. Add the reserved pasta water if you like, to achieve your desired consistency. Toss with pasta and shrimp. Garnish with green onions.

5. Lemon Garlic Parmesan Shrimp Pasta

Bright, zesty, and loaded with flavor, this Lemon Garlic Parmesan Shrimp Pasta is the ultimate quick dinner fix. Angel hair pasta is wonderfully delicate, and is a great pairing for shrimp for an elegant meal. 

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz angel hair pasta
• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Juice of 2 lemons
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley

Instructions:

1. Cook angel hair pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet and sauté garlic until fragrant. Add shrimp and cook until done.
3. Toss pasta with shrimp, lemon juice, Parmesan, and parsley. Serve immediately.

6. Shrimp Alfredo Fettuccine

This Shrimp Alfredo Fettuccine is rich, creamy, and packed with tender shrimp and silky sauce.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz fettuccine
• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup grated Parmesan
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Chopped parsley, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Cook fettuccine according to package instructions. Drain and set aside, reserving a little of the pasta water.
2. Melt butter in a skillet and sauté garlic until fragrant. Add shrimp and cook until done. Remove and set aside.
3. Stir cream and Parmesan into the skillet, simmering until thickened. You might want to add a splash of the pasta water to loosen things up a little. Toss with pasta and shrimp before serving.

7. Tomato Basil Shrimp Pasta

Fresh, flavorful, and easy to make, this Tomato Basil Shrimp Pasta is a Mediterranean-inspired delight. Such a good choice for a quick pasta dinner that’s packed with goodness and great for a weeknight! 

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz spaghetti
• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

Instructions:

1. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet and sauté garlic and cherry tomatoes until softened. Add shrimp and cook until done.
3. Toss pasta with shrimp, tomatoes, and basil. Serve warm.

8. Creamy Shrimp and Broccoli Pasta

This Creamy Shrimp and Broccoli Pasta is a perfect mix of veggies, creamy sauce, and juicy shrimp.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz rigatoni
• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions:

1. Cook rigatoni according to package instructions. Add broccoli in the last 2 minutes. Reserve a little of the water. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet. Sauté shrimp until cooked, then remove.
3. Stir cream and Parmesan into the skillet, simmering until thickened. Add a splash of the pasta water if desired to reach your preferred consistency. Toss with pasta, broccoli, and shrimp.

9. Shrimp Pesto Pasta