Shrimp Scampi Pasta Bake
A creamy, garlicky baked pasta with shrimp, lemon, butter, and cheese. It combines classic scampi flavors with a comforting pasta bake texture.
Yield
6 servings
Prep Time
- Prep: 20 minutes
- Cook: 30 minutes
- Total: About 50 minutes
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 oz (340g) penne, rigatoni, or linguine
- Salted water for boiling
Shrimp
- 1 lb (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika (optional)
Scampi Sauce
- 4 tbsp butter
- 5–6 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp flour
- 1 cup chicken broth or seafood stock
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Cheese Topping
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp melted butter
Garnish
- Fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
1. Cook the pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Cook pasta until:
- just al dente
Usually 1–2 minutes less than package instructions.
Drain and set aside.
2. Prepare the shrimp
Pat shrimp dry.
Season with:
- salt
- pepper
- paprika
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
Cook shrimp:
- 1–2 minutes per side
Just until pink.
Do not overcook; they’ll bake again later.
Transfer to a plate.
3. Make the scampi sauce
In the same skillet:
Melt butter over medium heat.
Add:
- garlic
- red pepper flakes
Cook:
- 30–60 seconds
Do not brown the garlic.
Sprinkle in flour and whisk for about 1 minute.
Slowly pour in:
- broth
- cream
Whisk continuously until smooth.
Simmer:
- 3–5 minutes
Until slightly thickened.
Stir in:
- lemon juice
- lemon zest
- Parmesan cheese
Taste and adjust seasoning.
4. Combine everything
Preheat oven to:
- 375°F / 190°C
In a large mixing bowl combine:
- cooked pasta
- shrimp
- scampi sauce
Mix gently until coated.
Transfer to a greased baking dish.
5. Add topping
Mix together:
- mozzarella
- Parmesan
- breadcrumbs
- melted butter
Sprinkle evenly over pasta.
6. Bake
Bake uncovered:
- 18–22 minutes
Until:
- bubbling
- golden on top
Optional:
Broil 1–2 minutes for extra browning.
Serve
Top with:
- chopped parsley
- extra Parmesan
- lemon wedges
Serve hot with:
- garlic bread
- roasted vegetables
- green salad
Approximate Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: 550–700
- Protein: 32–38g
- Carbs: 40–50g
- Fat: 28–35g
Tips
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for smoother sauce.
- Small shrimp can become rubbery in the oven; large shrimp work best.
- Add spinach or cherry tomatoes for extra flavor and color.
- If sauce thickens too much before baking:
- add a splash of pasta water or broth.
