Description
Succulent shrimp scampi pasta bake delivers Mediterranean coastal flavors in one comforting dish. Rich garlic butter sauce and tender pasta create a delightful meal you can savor with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) large shrimp, peeled & deveined
- 12 oz (340 g) penne or rigatoni pasta
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half & half)
- 3 tbsps butter
- 3 tbsps olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup white wine (or chicken broth)
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs (optional, for crispy topping)
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Juice of 1 lemon
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Cook pasta until al dente, draining and setting aside to maintain a slight firmness that will absorb the upcoming flavor-rich sauce.
- Aromatic Foundation: Sauté minced garlic and red pepper flakes in a butter-olive oil blend, creating an intensely fragrant base that will permeate the entire dish with deep, nuanced flavors.
- Seafood Integration: Introduce shrimp to the sizzling pan, cooking until they transform to a pristine opaque color with delicate golden edges, carefully absorbing the herbal-infused cooking environment.
- Liquid Enhancement: Deglaze the pan with white wine and lemon juice, creating a vibrant liquid that will elevate the overall flavor profile and tenderize the seafood components.
- Creamy Amalgamation: Merge cooked pasta, prepared shrimp, and scampi sauce in a large mixing bowl, gently folding in heavy cream, parmesan, and mozzarella to develop a luxuriously smooth and cohesive mixture.
- Baking Preparation: Transfer the combined mixture into a generously greased baking dish, spreading evenly to ensure consistent flavor distribution and optimal texture throughout.
- Crispy Topping: Sprinkle panko breadcrumbs mixed with melted butter across the surface, creating a golden, crunchy layer that will provide textural contrast to the creamy underneath.
- Final Baking: Roast in a preheated oven until edges bubble energetically and the top achieves a lustrous, bronzed appearance that signals perfect doneness.
- Garnish and Serve: Shower freshly chopped parsley over the dish, adding a vibrant green accent and subtle herbaceous freshness before presenting piping hot to eager diners.
Notes
- Prevent Pasta Overcooking: Cook pasta just until al dente, as it will continue cooking during baking, ensuring a perfect texture without becoming mushy.
- Control Shrimp Doneness: Remove shrimp from heat immediately when they turn opaque to prevent rubbery, tough texture – they’ll finish cooking in the oven.
- Enhance Flavor Layering: Toast garlic and red pepper flakes briefly to release maximum aromatics without burning, creating a deeply flavored base for the dish.
- Customize for Dietary Needs: Substitute heavy cream with light coconut milk for a dairy-free version, or use gluten-free pasta and breadcrumbs for a celiac-friendly adaptation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg