Description
This Creamy Shrimp and Asparagus Pasta is a restaurant-quality seafood pasta you can make at home in about 30 minutes. Featuring tender shrimp, crisp asparagus, and al dente pasta coated in a rich, lemony cream sauce, it’s the perfect balance of bright, creamy, and savory flavors. Ideal for weeknights, date nights, or spring gatherings, this elegant yet easy pasta recipe is flexible enough to suit a variety of tastes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225g) linguine or fettuccine
- 1 lb (450g) raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ cup (120ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120ml) chicken or vegetable broth
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, drain, and set aside.
- Sauté Asparagus: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook asparagus with a pinch of salt for 4–5 minutes until bright green and tender-crisp. Remove and set aside.
- Cook Shrimp: Add remaining olive oil and 1 tbsp butter to skillet. Add shrimp, season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, and cook 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Transfer to a plate.
- Make Sauce: Lower heat to medium-low. Add remaining butter and garlic; sauté 1 minute. Stir in cream and broth, simmer 2–3 minutes.
- Add Flavor: Stir in Parmesan, lemon zest, and juice until sauce is smooth and slightly thickened.
- Combine: Return pasta, shrimp, and asparagus to skillet. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley or basil, sprinkle with extra Parmesan, and serve warm.
Notes
- Use fresh shrimp for the best flavor and texture.
- Don’t overcook asparagus; it should remain tender-crisp.
- Add lemon juice after cream to prevent curdling.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.
- Gluten-free option: Use certified GF pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 195mg
Keywords: Shrimp Pasta, Asparagus Pasta, Creamy Seafood Pasta, Lemon Shrimp Pasta, Easy Shrimp Dinner, Spring Pasta Recipe