Creamy Shrimp Pasta
This is a delicious weeknight-friendly recipe that comes together in one pot and in just 15 minutes. The shining star of this recipe is creamy, soft Boursin cheese that’s flavored with delicious herbs and aromatics. You can use any type of flavored cheese, such as a mixed goat cheese or even cream cheese. The benefit of adding an ingredient like Boursin is that you pack a lot of flavor in a small package, delivering a delicious garlic, herby, or shallot flavor, depending on the variety you choose. All options are going to give your pasta tremendous flavor and a luscious texture that makes any weeknight dinner an A+.
What is Boursin cheese? Boursin is a creamy cow's milk cheese that is often flavored with herbs and aromatics. This cheese is most similar to cream cheese or goat cheese in texture, as it is very thick and will create a velvety sauce when melted into pastas, such as in this creamy shrimp pasta recipe. Because this cheese is often flavored with ingredients like garlic and herbs, you don’t have to add any extra aromatics to the sauce. This makes Boursin or other flavored cheeses a great option for weeknight dinner meals because it’s a big way to add flavor with just one ingredient!
Can you use frozen shrimp to make creamy shrimp pasta? Yes, frozen shrimp are great to keep on hand for a quick weeknight meal. Shrimp can be defrosted in just minutes by soaking them in cold water. Be sure to use cold water when defrosting shrimp (and not room temperature or warm water) because this ensures the delicate texture of the shrimp remains intact and no part of the shrimp starts to cook during the defrosting period.
Can you swap any other pasta for orzo in this recipe? Yes, you can substitute any short pasta in this creamy shrimp pasta recipe, such as fusilli, bowtie, or rigatoni. The only thing to be mindful of when making this substitution is how the cooking times may differ between pasta shapes. If you have to add additional cook time to the recipe, add it to step two of the recipe so it does not overcook the shrimp.
Can you eat creamy shrimp pasta leftover? Yes, you can definitely enjoy the leftovers of this creamy shrimp pasta, just be sure to do so within one day or so of making it. I recommend eating these leftovers quickly to make sure the shrimp stays as fresh as possible.
Why are one-pot pastas so great? One-pot pastas are great because not only do they cook all of the ingredients together to build flavor, but the starch in the pasta can be used to create a luscious sauce when combined with water or broth.
How to make creamy shrimp pasta:
Creamy Shrimp Pasta
This quick weeknight recipe for creamy shrimp pasta packs a ton of flavor in one pot, such as fresh shrimp, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and delicious Boursin cheese.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp
- 2 cups orzo
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 3 cups spinach
- 1 round of Boursin cheese, or any other flavored creamy cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- Salt + pepper to taste
Instructions
- Put a large, shallow pot over medium heat. Add the orzo, olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes, broth, and seasonings to the pot. Stir the ingredients and bring them to a simmer.
- Cover the pot and let the pasta cook on low heat for 5 minutes.
- Add the shrimp to the pot. Stir them in gently, cover the pot again, and cook on low heat for 5 additional minutes.
- Off the heat, add the creamy Boursin cheese and spinach and stir to melt the cheese and wilt the spinach. Enjoy!
