Cheesy Baked Shrimp
Cheesy Baked Shrimp is a creamy pasta dish with shrimp, tender pasta, and a garlic-lemon sauce. Topped with mozzarella and Parmesan, it's baked until golden and bubbly for the perfect comfort food.
Ingredients
Shrimp & Pasta:
- 1½ pounds 680g large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 pound 450g pasta like penne, rotini, cellentani, or cavatappi
Base for the Sauce:
- ¼ cup 60ml extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup 113g butter, unsalted
- 6-8 garlic cloves finely minced
- Zest and juice of one large lemon about ¼ cup juice
- ½ cup 120ml chicken or veggie broth
- ½ cup parsley freshly chopped, plus extra for sprinkling on top
- Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper based on your taste
- ¼-½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes leave it out if you prefer
Cheese Topping:
- 1 cup 113g shredded mozzarella (low moisture)
- 1 cup 100g grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta 1 minute less than the package suggests, then reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining. Don’t rinse.
- In a large skillet, heat butter and olive oil over medium. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, cook for 1-2 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, broth, lemon zest, and half the parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add shrimp to the skillet and cook until pink and curled, 2-4 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Stir the cooked pasta into the skillet, adding half the mozzarella and Parmesan. If needed, add reserved pasta water for the right consistency.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Transfer mixture to a baking dish if needed. Top with remaining cheese and bake for 20-25 minutes. Broil for 1-2 minutes for a crispy finish.
- Let the dish rest for 5-10 minutes to thicken. Top with remaining parsley.