This Marry Me shrimp pasta is everything you love about Marry Me chicken pasta but made with shrimp this time. A rich, creamy, seasoned, sun-dried tomato sauce, gluten-free pasta, and perfectly cooked shrimp come together to create a seafood version of the viral hit everyone knows and loves.
Quick Look: Marry Me Shrimp Pasta
- ⏱ Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 30 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 35 minutes
- 🍲 Servings: 6 Bowls
- ⚡ Calories: 321 calories per serving
- 🍂 Flavor Profile: Sun dried tomatoes mix with perfect shrimp and delicate pasta for perfection in every bite
- 👌 Difficulty: Easy - This recipe will prove you can cook with the best of them
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I love cooking shrimp pasta dishes. Shrimp is so delicious and mild that you can make just about any kind of pasta dish with it. Unfortunately, I know so many people who shy away from cooking shrimp because they never know if it's done or not. Be sure to check out my Marry Me Shrimp and Rice as well!
That makes me a sad panda, so here's the scoop. If you use a good meat thermometer, you never have to worry about that. I love my ThermoPro Lightning because it has a 1-second response time, an accurate, wide temperature range, a backlit screen, and 180-degree auto-rotating display. It even has temperature lock and motion-sensing on-off and sleep-wake modes. It's IP65 waterproof, as well, so I have no worries there, either.
I'm super happy with my ThermoPro. It's made cooking all kinds of meats, especially tricky ones like shrimp, incredibly easy. I highly recommend it. Use code: Nicole20 for 20% off your ThermoPro Lightning purchase.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: Marry Me Pasta uses simple ingredients to create deep flavor. There's nothing fancy and no struggling to find specialty ingredients.
- Easy to Make: This is a one-pan dish that's ready in just a few minutes.
- Rich and Creamy Sauce: The sun-dried tomato sauce is made with heavy cream and parmesan cheese to create a rich, creamy, flavorful sauce.
- Perfect Family Dinner: This serves 4 to 6 people, making it a perfect family dinner.
Ingredients
For the Shrimp
- Extra-Large Shrimp: Extra-large shrimp provide a big blast of shrimp flavor and great texture.
- Seasonings: A blend of smoked paprika, Italian seasonings, salt, and black pepper gives the shrimp a deep flavor.
- Sun Dried Tomato Oil: Sun dried tomato oil helps give the shrimp a nice exterior and infuses more flavor into them.
For the Sauce
- Tomato Paste and Sun Dried Tomatoes: These create the flavorful base for the creamy tomato sauce.
- Heavy Cream: Heavy cream gives the sauce its rich, creamy texture.
- Vegetable Broth: Vegetable broth helps create the perfect sauce consistency and adds more flavor.
- Onions and Garlic: These classic aromatics add pungent, slightly biting flavor with a note of sweetness.
- Spinach: Spinach adds more flavor, color, and texture to the pasta.
- Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan cheese thickens the sauce further and adds a deep, earthy flavor to it.
- Gluten-Free Flour: Gluten-free flour combines with the butter used to sweat the vegetables to make a roux.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Flavor Variations
- Shrimp: You can make this dish with shrimp, prawns, tiger shrimp, lobster, crab, or even scallops.
- Dairy-Free: Make a gluten and dairy-free version of this recipe by using plant-based butter and cream.
- Pasta: I used penne, but any short, textured pasta will work well.
- Spicy: Add red pepper flakes for a kick of heat.
- Seafood or Fish Stock: For more seafood flavor, use this in place of vegetable stock.
Instructions
For the Shrimp
1: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta per the package instructions for al dente while you make the shrimp.
2: Toss the shrimp in a medium bowl with the paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until they're evenly coated.
3: Cook the shrimp in the sun dried tomato oil on medium heat for about 2 minutes per side until they're opaque and C-shaped. Their internal temperature should be 165 degrees. I use my Lightning Pro 1-Second Thermometer for a super-fast readout.
4: Set the shrimp aside to cool.
For the Sauce
1: Melt the butter over medium heat in the same pan. Then, cook the garlic, onions, sun dried tomatoes, tomato paste, and seasonings until fragrant.
2: Add the flour to the tomato mixture and stir until well combined. Then, Add the broth, heavy cream, and spinach.
3: Cook the sauce until it begins to thicken and the spinach begins to wilt. Then, add the parmesan cheese and stir until creamy.
4: Gently stir in the pasta. Then, add the shrimp and gently stir again. Garnish with fresh basil and enjoy!
Hint
Your shrimp is perfectly cooked when it's C-shaped. If the shrimp is O-shaped, it's been overcooked.
Storage
You can refrigerate this Marry Me shrimp pasta recipe for up to 3 days in an air-tight container.
To reheat the dish, place it in a large, deep-sided skillet and cook on medium-low heat until heated through.
Expert Tips
- Use the ThermoPro Lightning meat thermometer to quickly and accurately measure the shrimp's internal temperature for doneness. Use Code: Nicole20 for 20% off.
- Your shrimp should be C-shaped when fully cooked. If it's O-shaped, it's been overcooked.
- Stir your sauce constantly while you cook it to prevent sticking.
- Be gentle when stirring in the pasta and shrimp so you don't break the pasta apart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresh shrimp should be bright pink or gray and slightly transparent. Avoid shrimp that are dull or pale. Shrimp should also have a fresh, clean, saltwater smell. If they smell fishy or have an ammonia smell, they are not fit to eat.
Perfectly cooked shrimp should be pink, opaque, and C-shaped. O-shaped shrimp have been overcooked. For the most accurate cooking, use a high-quality meat thermometer like the ThermoPro Lightning to measure the shrimp's internal temperature. If it's 165 degrees, the shrimp is perfectly cooked.
Remove your pasta a minute or two before the specified cooking time for al dented on the box. The pasta will cook to perfection after it's been added to the sauce.
In addition, stir your pasta into your sauce gently to avoid mashing it or breaking it apart.
★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below! I would love to hear back from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and TikTok for more delicious recipes.
📖 Recipe
Marry Me Shrimp Pasta
Video
Equipment
- Thermopro Lightning meat thermometer Use Code: Nicole20 for 20% off
Ingredients
For the Shrimp
- 1 pound extra large shrimp peeled/deveined
- ½ tablespoon smoked paprika
- ¾ tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil from the sun-dried tomato jar
For the Sauce
- 2 ½ tablespoon Cento tomato paste
- ½ cup Cento sun-dried tomatoes diced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ⅓ teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon dried basil
- 2 tablespoon Gluten free 1:1 flour
- 2 cups diced spinach
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon minced onion
- 2 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil chopped for garnish
- 12 oz gluten free penne
Instructions
For the Shrimp
- Boil the pasta according to the package directions for al dente while you cook the shrimp.
- Toss the shrimp with the paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl until they're evenly coated.
- Heat the sun-dried tomato oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Then, cook the shrimp for two minutes on both sides until they are pink, opaque, and C-shaped. If they're O-shaped, you've cooked them too long.
- Set the cooked shrimp aside to cool.
For the Sauce
- Melt the butter in the same pan over medium-low heat. Then, add the garlic, onion, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and dried basil. Cook the mixture for about two minutes until fragrant.
- Add the flour to the aromatics and stir well. Then, add the broth, heavy cream, and spinach. Stir and cook until the sauce thickens and the spinach starts to wilt - about 5 minutes. Then, add the parmesan cheese and stir until melted.
- Carefully mix the pasta into the sauce. Then, add the shrimp and gently stir again. Garnish with fresh basil, and enjoy.
Notes
- This recipe serves six.
- Refrigerate this pasta for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Because this dish is made with cream, freezing is not recommended.
- Shrimp is perfectly cooked when it's C-shaped. If your shrimp is O-shaped, you've overcooked it.
- You can also make this dish with chicken, steak, or other seafood like scallops, crab, or lobster. Just sear the meat and then add it at the end.
Cem says
I love this recipe.
I cooked this for my wife and it went down very well 😋.
thank you
Nicole Kendrick says
Aww, thank you so much! 🥰 I’m so glad you both enjoyed it! Nothing makes me happier than hearing that a recipe was a hit at home. ❤️😋
Sciacca says
This is amazing, I added some pan seared chicken and wow. My family absolutely loved it. My son said it was better than the pasta we get from his restaurant. It will definitely be added to the dinner rotation. It’s packed full of flavor and very easy to make…just follow the tutorial!!😊
Nicole Kendrick says
This makes me so happy to hear! 🥹❤️ I LOVE that you added pan-seared chicken, too—that sounds absolutely delicious! And tell your son he just made my day with that restaurant comparison! 😂 Thank you so much for giving the recipe a try and for sharing this sweet review. I’m so glad your family loved it! 😊
Patrick G says
Ahh nvm lol I see it now sorry! Great recipe!
Nicole Kendrick says
Glad you found it!
Jessica says
It came out so good! I added 2 cups Italian blend cheese to my sauce instead of the 1 cup of Parmesan. My Very picky 7 year old ate it all up, so that is the for sure stamp of approval 😁
Nicole Kendrick says
A picky 7-year-old giving it the stamp of approval?! That’s the ultimate compliment! 😂❤️ Your Italian cheese blend substitution sounds delicious, too. I’m so happy it turned out so well and that the whole family enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing! 😁✨
Love Tia says
This worked exactly as written, and my family loved it so much. I did pop it in the oven for 5 minutes after topping with Parmesan cheese however it was amazing before that ✨💚💪🏽
Nicole Kendrick says
Ahh, I love hearing this! 🥹💚 So happy it worked perfectly for you and that your family loved it! And that extra 5 minutes in the oven with Parmesan sounds like the perfect finishing touch. 😍 Thank you so much for sharing!
Dee says
I made this last night and it was amazing! So rich and creamy! I took a few liberties with some other ingredients but it was 98% your recipe! I added some thyme, sun-dried tomatoes on top as a garnish! But we all loved it and the family wants to add it to the rotation! We are looking now to see what we will try next! Thanks for the recipe!
Nicole Kendrick says
Thank you so much! 🥹❤️ I absolutely LOVE when someone puts their own spin on a recipe, and the thyme + sun-dried tomato garnish sounds delicious! I’m so happy it was a hit with the whole family and made it into the dinner rotation! I hope you find another favorite to try next! 🥰
Ted Shannon says
This recipe was a huge hit with my family of six which in general is a feat on it's own. I only made one adjustment. Instead of prawns I used a marinara mix as one child doesn't eat prawns. We loved the flavours. Thank you for this recipe and it will be added to the meal rotation. 😋
Nicole Kendrick says
A family of six AND everyone loved it?! That’s definitely a win! 😂❤️ I love the marinara mix substitution, too. That is such a great way to make the recipe work for everyone at the table. So happy the flavors were a hit and that it’s earned a spot in your regular meal rotation! Thank you so much for sharing!
Key B says
Sooo delicious! Me and my household love it! It’s definitely been added into my dinner rotation ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Nicole Kendrick says
Thank you so much!! 🥹❤️ I’m so happy you and your household loved it! Knowing it’s made its way into your regular dinner rotation means so much to me!
Leila G says
I followed this recipe and instead of shrimp I made it with Italian sausages and it is soooooo good!! I added a little more heavy cream and like 2 tablespoons of cream cheese for extra creaminess. Thank you for sharing your delicious recipe!
Nicole Kendrick says
Omg, Italian sausage sounds AMAZING in this!! And I love the idea of adding a little extra creaminess with the heavy cream and cream cheese. So glad you loved the recipe! Thank you so much for trying it and sharing your creamy, cheesy twist!
Miriana says
My family loved this! This recipe is really good my family ate the entire pot which I was surprised because we have many picky eaters. I also used sun dried tomato pesto (highly recommend) will definitely make this again.
Nicole Kendrick says
Thank you so much! I'm so happy your family loved it, especially with picky eaters, that's the best compliment! I love your idea of using sun-dried tomato pesto too. Thanks for sharing that tip, and I'm so glad it's a recipe you'll be making again! ❤️
Sanam Durrani says
Tried this recipe and it turned out amazing!!!!! Just did a few tweaks according to my preference, added chilli flakes, substituted full fat cream with low fat and skipped on cheese all together as I am watching my glucose-but it still turned out amazing so I would say its a forgiving recipe. Thanks for sharing it!
Nicole Kendrick says
Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it and made it your own. I love hearing how readers customize my recipes, and those sound like great swaps! The chili flakes must have added the perfect kick, and it's wonderful to know the recipe still turned out creamy and delicious with the low-fat cream and no cheese. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review—I really appreciate it!
Crystal says
Can you use regular smoked paprika instead of sweet smoked paprika?
Nicole Kendrick says
Absolutely!
Crystal says
Thanks for getting back to me but one more question. Do you use salted or unsalted butter?
Nicole Kendrick says
Honestly it’s personal preference! The recipe is not particularly high in sodium and salted or unsalted butter would be just fine. I have used both.
Jessica Krall Roper says
I cannot eat shrimp.Could I substitute these shrimp with chicken
Nicole Kendrick says
Hi Jessica! You most certainly can. I have a Marry Me Chicken Recipe on my site as well that you would probably enjoy.
Lorenzo Mathis says
I tried this Marry Me Shrimp Pasta recipe and it honestly turned out amazing! The recipe was super easy to follow, and everything came together exactly as written. The dish came out perfectly creamy, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. It tasted like something you’d get at a restaurant.I also appreciated that it didn’t leave me feeling overly heavy afterward. It fit well with my nutrition goals, and I’ve been staying shredded while still enjoying meals like this. It’s become one of my go-to recipes because it satisfies the craving without making me feel like I’ve completely gone off track. Definitely making this again!
Nicole Kendrick says
This makes me so happy to hear! I love that it hit the spot without feeling heavy, that's exactly what I'm going for with these recipes. Thanks so much for making it and coming back to share, Lorenzo!
Christian Chavez says
Absolutely delicious! This recipe was so easy to follow, and the flavors came together perfectly. The shrimp was tender, the sun-dried tomatoes added the perfect touch, and the sauce was rich without being too heavy. It tasted like something you’d order at a nice Italian restaurant. My family loved it, and I’ll definitely be making it again. Thank you for sharing such a fantastic recipe!
Nicole Kendrick says
Thank you so much for your kind words, Christian! 😊 We're so happy you and your family loved it. The sun-dried tomatoes really do add such amazing flavor, and we're glad the sauce hit that perfect balance for you. It means so much that you'd make it again! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, and we hope you find many more recipes to enjoy.
Shannon says
I actually just made this tonight and it's amazing! I will say I did not measure it the seasonings because I love seasoning so I measured with my heart, but bravo! Definitely a keeper!
Nicole Kendrick says
Shannon, I love to hear that! Measuring with your heart is absolutely the way to go. Thank you for taking the time to leave such a sweet comment.
Melissa says
Would this be good with peas instead of spinach ?
Nicole Kendrick says
Sure! If you are a fan of pees this will be wonderful substitution! Enjoy!