One Pot Creamy Shrimp Pasta is an easy, flavorful dinner made with tender shrimp, tomatoes and pasta tossed in a rich garlic Parmesan cream sauce.

From the recipe collection of Tara Ippolito

This one pot creamy shrimp pasta is one of those dinners that looks and tastes a little fancy but is actually incredibly easy to make. The shrimp, fresh tomatoes, garlic, Parmesan and a little lemon come together in a creamy sauce that has so much flavor.

I used angel hair pasta, but spaghetti or linguine would be delicious here, too. Just choose your favorite and adjust the cooking time as needed. Everything comes together in the same skillet, which means less cleanup and an easy dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

One pot: The shrimp, sauce and pasta are all made in the same skillet for easy cleanup.
Quick and easy: Shrimp and pasta both cook quickly, making this a great weeknight dinner.
Creamy but fresh: Parmesan and heavy cream make the sauce rich, while tomatoes, basil and lemon brighten everything up.
Choose your pasta: Angel hair, spaghetti and linguine all work wonderfully here.

Ingredients

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this delicious recipe. You can find the full ingredients list along with measurements on the recipe card below.

Shrimp: Use one pound of large raw shrimp that have been peeled and deveined.
Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder and Paprika: A simple combination that gives the shrimp plenty of flavor without overpowering the creamy sauce.
Olive Oil: For sautéing the shrimp and adding a little richness to the skillet.
Butter: Adds flavor to the shrimp and creates a delicious base for the sauce.
Cherry Tomatoes: Halved cherry tomatoes add a little sweetness, acidity and freshness.
Red Onion: Thinly sliced red onion adds great flavor without being too strong.
Garlic: Fresh sliced garlic gives the cream sauce tons of flavor.
Fresh Basil: Adds a fresh Italian-inspired flavor that pairs perfectly with the tomatoes and Parmesan.
Chicken Broth: Creates the base of the sauce and provides the liquid needed to cook the pasta.
Heavy Cream: Makes the sauce rich and creamy.
Pasta: I used angel hair, but spaghetti or linguine are both great options.
Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan melts into the sauce and gives it a salty, cheesy flavor.
Fresh parsley: Adds a little freshness and color at the end.
Lemon: Fresh lemon juice brightens up the creamy sauce and pairs perfectly with the shrimp.

How to Make It

Heres how to make this delicious pasta. You can find the full ingredients list along with instructions on the recipe card below.

Season the shrimp on both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, italian seasoning and paprika. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for about 1–2 minutes per side, or until they’re pink and just cooked through. Remove them from the skillet and set aside.

seasoned shrimp cooked and removed from skillet

Add the cherry tomatoes, red onion, minced garlic and some of the fresh basil to the same skillet. Lightly season with salt and pepper and sauté for about 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften. Add the pasta and pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir everything together and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.

cherry tomatoes, red onion and garlic sauteed in skillet with pasta, heavy cream and chicken broth added

Cook until the pasta is just al dente, stirring frequently to keep the strands separated. Cooking time will depend on the pasta you choose. Angel hair will cook much faster than spaghetti or linguine. If the pasta has absorbed the liquid before it’s finished cooking, add more chicken broth a little at a time until the pasta is tender. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the freshly grated Parmesan until it’s melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Season with salt, pepper, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder and ½ teaspoon of Italian Seasoning. Return the shrimp to the skillet, then add the parsley, remaining basil and fresh lemon juice. Gently toss everything together until the shrimp are warmed through. Remove the skillet from the heat and serve immediately.

shrimp added to skillet with fresh lemon juice and parsley.

Pro Tips

Choose your pasta: Angel hair, spaghetti or linguine all work great. Angel hair cooks extremely quickly, while spaghetti and linguine need more time and may require additional chicken broth.
Don’t overcook the angel hair. Start checking it after just a few minutes and remove the skillet from the heat as soon as it’s al dente. It will continue to soften in the hot sauce.
Keep the sauce a little loose. This is especially important with angel hair. The pasta will continue absorbing the sauce as it sits, so don’t wait for it to look super thick in the skillet.
Use freshly grated Parmesan. It melts much more smoothly into the cream sauce than pre-shredded cheese.
Don’t overcook the shrimp. We’re adding them back at the end, so remove them from the skillet as soon as they’re cooked through.

Variations

Add some heat: Add crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce for a little kick.
Add spinach: Stir in a few handfuls of baby spinach toward the end and let it wilt into the sauce.
Change the pasta: Try angel hair, spaghetti or linguine depending on what you have on hand.
Add more vegetables: Mushrooms or chopped asparagus would both be delicious additions.

What to Serve With It

This pasta is pretty much a complete meal on its own, so you don’t need much! I love serving it with some warm garlic bread or Italian bread to soak up the creamy sauce. A simple green salad or roasted vegetable on the side would be great, too.

Storage & Reheating

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To reheat, add the pasta to a skillet over low heat with a small splash of chicken broth or heavy cream. Gently toss until warmed through. This helps loosen the sauce since the pasta will absorb quite a bit of it while sitting in the refrigerator.

I wouldn’t recommend freezing this recipe. Cream sauces can separate once thawed, and the pasta and shrimp can both become too soft.

Other One Pot Recipes

I love easy one pot meals because when dinner is done, theres less clean up for me! I've rounded up all my Best One Pot Recipes so you can find them easily in one place. I highly recommend my One Pot Mississippi Orzo. Its one of my most popular and delicious ones.

ALL MY BEST ONE POT RECIPES