Weeknight • Seafood
Creamy Tomato Shrimp and Spinach Pasta
This quick and elegant pasta dish features tender shrimp, fresh spinach, and a luscious creamy tomato sauce.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Servings
- 4
- Level
- Weeknight
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Looking for a dish that feels fancy but comes together in a flash? Our Creamy Tomato Shrimp and Spinach Pasta is your new go-to! Juicy shrimp, vibrant spinach, and a rich, velvety tomato cream sauce coat your favorite pasta, creating a meal that’s both comforting and surprisingly quick. Perfect for a date night in or a speedy weeknight dinner that will impress.
Ingredients
Yield: 4 servings
Main
- 8 oz pasta (linguine, fettuccine, or penne work well)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Step 1
Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain pasta and set aside.
Step 2
While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
Step 3
Add chopped onion to the same skillet and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Step 4
Pour in the can of diced tomatoes (with juice) and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and let it cook for 5 minutes, allowing flavors to meld. Stir in heavy cream and reserved pasta water, bringing it back to a gentle simmer.
Step 5
Stir in fresh spinach and cook until just wilted, about 1-2 minutes. Add the cooked pasta and cooked shrimp to the skillet, tossing to coat everything evenly in the sauce. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 6
Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
Tips
- Don't overcook the shrimp; they cook quickly and can become rubbery.
- If you prefer a smoother sauce, you can briefly blend the diced tomatoes with an immersion blender before adding the cream.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic for a bit of a kick.
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