Creamy Shrimp and Spinach Pasta
Luxurious pasta dish with succulent shrimp, fresh spinach, and a velvety garlic cream sauce. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 40 minutes pairs pasta, shrimp, spinach for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 500 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta
- 1 lb shrimp
- 1 cup spinach
- 4 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions, then drain and set aside.
- Step 2: In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until aromatic. Stir in shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes until just opaque.
- Step 3: Add spinach and cook for 1-2 minutes until wilted. Pour in heavy cream and simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Season with salt, pepper, and 1/4 cup Parmesan. Toss with cooked pasta until evenly coated.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Creamy Shrimp and Spinach Pasta take to make?
Total time is about 40 minutes (15 min prep + 25 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Creamy Shrimp and Spinach Pasta?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep pasta from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Creamy Shrimp and Spinach Pasta?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Creamy Shrimp and Spinach Pasta for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Creamy Shrimp and Spinach Pasta?
Italian pasta like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Substituted chicken for tofu and it worked beautifully.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
- ★★★☆☆
Average. The concept is good but execution needs work on seasoning.
