Description
Garlic butter shrimp and sausage skillet pasta combines savory flavors in one delightful pan. Quick weeknight meals become effortless with this simple, satisfying Mediterranean-inspired dish that brings excitement to dinner tables.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ lb (226 g) large shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- ½ lb (226 g) smoked sausage (sliced into rounds)
- 8 oz (226 g) spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 tbsps unsalted butter
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth (or dry white wine)
- 2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- Salt (for boiling water)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a large pot of salted water to a vigorous boil. Cook pasta until al dente, adhering to package instructions. Reserve a cup of starchy pasta water before draining.
- Sausage Searing: Heat olive oil in a expansive skillet over medium heat. Brown sausage slices evenly, rotating to achieve a rich caramelized exterior. Transfer to a holding plate.
- Shrimp Sizzle: In the same skillet, add more olive oil. Season shrimp with smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Quickly sear until each piece turns pink and translucent. Remove and set aside with sausage.
- Aromatic Foundation: Reduce heat and melt butter. Introduce minced garlic and red pepper flakes, creating a fragrant base. Deglaze the pan with chicken broth, capturing all embedded flavor nuances.
- Unification: Fold pasta into the sauce, ensuring complete coating. Adjust sauce consistency using reserved pasta water. Reintegrate sausage and shrimp, gently warming through the mixture.
- Final Flourish: Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, optionally garnishing with additional cheese and herbs for visual appeal.
Notes
- Pasta Water Preservation: Save a cup of starchy pasta water before draining to help create a silky, clingy sauce that perfectly coats each pasta strand.
- Protein Searing Technique: Cook shrimp and sausage quickly over high heat to achieve a golden-brown exterior while maintaining tender, juicy interiors – avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Flavor Layering Strategy: Use the same skillet for each ingredient to build depth of flavor, allowing caramelized bits from sausage and shrimp to enhance the sauce’s complexity.
- Seasoning Balance: Taste and adjust salt gradually, considering the natural saltiness of sausage and Parmesan cheese to prevent an overly salty final dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 200 mg