Shrimp Scampi Pasta Bake (Printer-friendly)

Oven-baked penne with shrimp in creamy lemon garlic butter sauce topped with melted parmesan and mozzarella.

# What You'll 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

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a large baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Cook pasta in salted boiling water 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain well 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 any browned bits from the bottom. Simmer for 2 minutes.
06 - Stir in lemon juice and zest, then pour in heavy cream. Simmer 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in parsley.
07 - Toss cooked pasta with shrimp sauce and 2/3 of the parmesan cheese until evenly coated.
08 - Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle mozzarella and remaining parmesan evenly over the top.
09 - Bake 15-18 minutes until cheese is melted and golden brown. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
10 - Garnish with additional fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The lemony cream sauce hugs every penne curve and shrimp perfectly
  • That golden mozzarella crust makes people literally lean in closer when you serve it
  • It looks like you spent hours but comes together in under an hour
02 -
  • Overcooked shrimp turns rubbery fast, so pull them the second they turn pink
  • Undercook the pasta intentionally since it absorbs sauce and finishes in the oven
  • The sauce will look thin going into the oven but thickens beautifully as it bakes
03 -
  • Toasted breadcrumbs sprinkled over the cheese before baking adds the most incredible texture contrast
  • Grate your own parmesan fresh, the pre grated stuff just doesnt melt the same way

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