If you’re looking for a restaurant-quality dinner that you can make right at home, this Shrimp Pasta in a Cayenne Cream Sauce is everything you want. The seafood pasta is creamy, spicy, savory, and full of fresh ingredients.
This is the the kind of quick and easy meal that feels fancy, but comes together fast enough for a weeknight dinner. The buttery red bell peppers, fresh basil, and bold cayenne cream sauce coat every strand of fettuccine and pair perfectly with tender shrimp.
Why You Will Love this Shrimp Pasta Recipe
- Perfect balance of creamy and spicy: This creamy shrimp pasta recipe has the ideal mix of rich heavy cream, salty Parmesan cheese, and bold cayenne pepper. The cayenne cream sauce clings to the fettuccine for a flavorful bite every time.
- Ready in about 30 minutes: Need a quick dinner that still feels impressive? This shrimp pasta dish cooks up in about half an hour, making it perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute dinner guests.
- Restaurant-quality flavor at home: With ingredients like fresh garlic, Parmesan cheese, red bell peppers, and fresh basil, this pasta with shrimp in cayenne cream sauce tastes like something you’d order from a high-end Italian or Cajun fusion restaurant.
- Customizable heat level: Whether you want a mild kick or full-on spice, the cayenne pepper is easily adjustable. This shrimp pasta recipe works for heat lovers and spice-shy eaters alike.
- Great for entertaining: Pasta dishes with shrimp in a creamy sauce look and taste impressive. Serve this Shrimp Pasta in a Cayenne Cream Sauce to guests and it’s guaranteed to impress, without the stress.
Ingredients
- Fettuccine: You can substitute with linguine, spaghetti, tagliatelle, or even penne pasta.
- Shrimp: Fresh or frozen, peeled and deveined. Can sub with scallops, chicken, or even tofu for a vegetarian version.
- Red Bell Peppers: Yellow or orange bell peppers work just as well. Add mushrooms or zucchini for extra veggies.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic is best, but garlic paste or granulated garlic can be used in a pinch.
- Butter: Can be replaced with olive oil or a dairy-free alternative, if needed.
- Cayenne Pepper: Smoked paprika or crushed red pepper flakes are good alternatives, though the flavor will vary slightly.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Half and half or whole milk with a bit of cream cheese can be used as a lighter option.
- Chicken Stock: Vegetable stock or seafood stock also work well.
- Parmesan Cheese: Pecorino Romano or Grana Padano can be substituted. Avoid pre-shredded cheese, for best melting.
- Fresh Basil: Sub with fresh parsley or baby spinach, if needed.
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- Author: Charlotte Fashion Plate
Description
If you’re looking for a restaurant-quality dinner that you can make right at home, this Shrimp Pasta in a Cayenne Cream Sauce is everything you want. It’s creamy, spicy, savory, and full of fresh ingredients. It’s the kind of meal that feels fancy, but comes together fast enough for a weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
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WELCOME! My name is Melissa Latin aka. Charlotte Fashion Plate. Happy to meet you! I am more than just recipes. I love fashion and style too! Most importantly, I love my Family (my Hubby and my Fur Babies). My Husband (aka my “Kitchen Bitch”) means the world to me. He’s pretty damn cool too. Not only is he one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, he also has had a lengthy career in professional hockey. Not only winning two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the early ’90’s, but most recently winning the Calder Cup with the Charlotte Checkers, amongst many other accolades. If you live in Charlotte and play hockey, or have a family member who plays, be sure to contact him!
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