Shrimp Scampi Pasta Bake (Printable)

Comforting pasta bake with shrimp, lemon garlic butter sauce, and crispy cheese 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

# How To Make:

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

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The lemony garlic butter sauce clings to every piece of pasta and shrimp in the most satisfying way
  • It comes together faster than delivery but tastes like you spent all day cooking
  • The crispy cheese topping is basically the best part of garlic bread married to pasta
02 -
  • Overcooked shrimp are the enemy—pull them from heat the moment they turn pink
  • Letting the baked dish rest for 5 minutes makes serving so much cleaner
  • The pasta continues cooking in the oven, so undercook it on the stove
03 -
  • Pat shrimp completely dry before cooking for the best sear
  • Room temperature cream incorporates more smoothly into the sauce

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