Buttery Garlic Shrimp Pasta Bake

🦐 Seaside Comfort: Buttery Garlic Shrimp Pasta Bake

What it tastes like

Creamy, rich cheese sauce, sweet shrimp, garlic everywhere, with those browned cheesy edges you fight over.

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Ingredients (serves 4–6)

Pasta & shrimp

• 12 oz short pasta (rigatoni, cavatappi, penne, or elbow)

• 1 lb large shrimp, peeled & deveined

• 2 tbsp butter

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• Salt & pepper

• Paprika or Old Bay (optional but excellent)

Garlic cream sauce

• 4 tbsp butter

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• ¼ cup flour

• 2½ cups whole milk (or half-and-half for extra indulgence)

• ½ cup heavy cream

• Salt & pepper to taste

• Pinch of nutmeg (optional, but chef-y)

Cheese (this matters)

• 1½ cups shredded mozzarella

• 1 cup shredded Gruyère or Monterey Jack

• ½ cup Parmesan, freshly grated

Topping

• Extra Parmesan

• Chopped parsley

• Optional: buttery breadcrumbs for crunch

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How to make it

1. Cook the pasta

   • Boil in well-salted water until just al dente.

   • Drain and set aside.

2. Sauté the shrimp

   • Melt 2 tbsp butter in a skillet.

   • Add garlic, cook 30 seconds.

   • Add shrimp, season with salt, pepper, and paprika/Old Bay.

   • Cook 1–2 minutes per side until just pink.

   • Remove from heat (don’t overcook—they’ll finish in the oven).

3. Make the garlic cream sauce

   • In a saucepan, melt 4 tbsp butter.

   • Add garlic, cook until fragrant.

   • Whisk in flour; cook 1 minute.

   • Slowly whisk in milk and cream.

   • Simmer until thick enough to coat a spoon.

   • Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.

4. Cheese it up

   • Turn heat to low.

   • Stir in mozzarella, Gruyère, and Parmesan until smooth.

5. Assemble

   • Preheat oven to 375°F / 190°C.

   • Mix pasta with sauce.

   • Transfer to a buttered baking dish.

   • Nestle shrimp evenly across the top.

   • Sprinkle extra Parmesan (and breadcrumbs if using).

6. Bake

   • Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until bubbly and golden.

   • Broil 1–2 minutes for those browned cheese spots (watch closely).

7. Finish

   • Sprinkle with parsley.

   • Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

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Pro tips

• Add a squeeze of lemon at the end to brighten it up 🍋

• A pinch of chili flakes gives it a subtle kick

• Swap shrimp for scallops or lump crab if you’re feeling fancy

If you want, I can:

• Make this one-pan only

• Lighten it up slightly

• Turn it into a lobster version

• Or write it like a cookbook intro with the “Seaside Comfort” vibe 🌊🧈

Just say the word.