Shrimp Scampi Pasta Bake (Printable View)

Oven-baked pasta with succulent shrimp in a lemony garlic-butter sauce, topped with a golden parmesan crust.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Seafood

01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Pasta

02 - 12 oz penne or ziti pasta

→ 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

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a large baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta 2 minutes less than package directions for al dente texture. Drain well and set aside.
03 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter with olive oil. Add minced garlic and chopped shallot, sautéing until fragrant, approximately 1-2 minutes.
04 - Add shrimp to the skillet. Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 2-3 minutes until shrimp turn pink, being careful not to overcook.
05 - Pour in white wine, stirring to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
06 - Add lemon juice and lemon zest. Pour in heavy cream and stir to combine. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until sauce begins to thicken. Remove from heat and stir in fresh parsley.
07 - Add the cooked pasta to the shrimp sauce. Sprinkle in 2/3 of the grated parmesan. Toss thoroughly to coat pasta evenly with the sauce.
08 - Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and remaining parmesan evenly across the top.
09 - Bake for 15-18 minutes until the cheese topping is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling around the edges.
10 - Allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes before serving to let the sauce set slightly. Garnish with additional parsley and serve with lemon wedges if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The lemony garlic sauce gets better overnight, so leftovers are basically a gift to your future self
  • That golden parmesan crust makes people think you spent hours when it really just does its thing in the oven
  • Shrimp and pasta together means everyone leaves the table actually satisfied, not politely hungry
02 -
  • Undercooking the pasta by 2 minutes is not optional, it's the difference between baked pasta perfection and a soggy disappointment
  • Shrimp continue cooking when they come out of the pan, so pull them when they're just barely pink all the way through
  • The sauce will look too thin before baking, but it thickens beautifully in the oven, so trust the process
03 -
  • Toasted breadcrumbs on top add this incredible crunch that makes the texture more interesting
  • The sauce gets even better overnight, so making it ahead actually improves the final dish

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