Shrimp Scampi Pasta Bake (Printable)

Oven-baked penne with plump shrimp, zesty lemon garlic cream sauce, and golden cheesy topping.

# What You Need:

→ Seafood

01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Pasta

02 - 12 oz penne or ziti

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

03 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 small shallot, finely chopped
05 - 1 lemon, zested and juiced
06 - 3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

→ Sauce & Dairy

07 - 5 tbsp unsalted butter
08 - 1/4 cup olive oil
09 - 1/2 cup dry white wine
10 - 3/4 cup heavy cream
11 - 2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
12 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

→ Seasonings

13 - 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
14 - 1/2 tsp salt
15 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a large baking dish.
02 - Cook pasta in salted boiling water 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter with olive oil. Add garlic and shallot, sauté until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
04 - Stir in shrimp, season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook 2-3 minutes until just pink. Do not overcook.
05 - Add white wine, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 2 minutes.
06 - Add lemon juice and zest, then stir in cream. Simmer 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat, stir in parsley.
07 - Combine cooked pasta with shrimp sauce and 2/3 of the parmesan. Toss to coat evenly.
08 - Transfer to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle mozzarella and remaining parmesan on top.
09 - Bake 15-18 minutes until top is golden and bubbling. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
10 - Garnish with extra parsley and serve with lemon wedges if desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The golden parmesan crust creates this incredible texture contrast against the tender pasta
  • Everything bakes together so the shrimp stays plump and absorbs all that garlic lemon flavor
  • Leftovers somehow taste even better the next day for lunch
02 -
  • Overcooked shrimp are sad and rubbery, so pull them the second they turn pink
  • Undercooking the pasta initially is not optional, it will become mush if you skip this step
  • The sauce thickens as it bakes, so do not panic if it looks a bit loose going into the oven
03 -
  • Room temperature shrimp cook more evenly, so take them out of the fridge fifteen minutes before starting
  • Grate your own parmesan from a block instead of buying pre shredded for better melting

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