Description
🍤 Dive into succulent jumbo shrimp swimming in a rich, garlicky cream sauce – high-protein luxury with melted cheddar for an indulgent yet simple dinner treat!
🧄 Ready in 20 minutes, this creamy garlic shrimp is versatile over pasta, rice, or veggies, perfect for date nights or quick gourmet meals at home.
Ingredients
– 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
– 2 pounds jumbo shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tails removed
– 1/4 teaspoon salt
– 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
– 2 tablespoons butter
– 1 tablespoon minced garlic
– 2 tablespoons white wine
– 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
– 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
– 1/2 cup shredded white cheddar cheese
– 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
1-First Step: Prepare the shrimp and ingredientsStart by patting the shrimp dry with paper towels. This step matters because dry shrimp sear better and taste better. Season the shrimp with the salt and ground black pepper so every bite has flavor from the start. Have the butter, garlic, white wine, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, cheese, and parsley ready before you begin cooking.If you want to make this garlic shrimp recipe part of a bigger meal, this is a good time to cook your pasta, rice, or vegetables too. That way the creamy shrimp sauce can go straight onto a hot side dish when it is done.
2-Second Step: Sear the shrimpHeat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the jumbo shrimp in a single layer. Cook for about 1 to 2 minutes per side, just until they turn pink and opaque. Do not overcook them, since shrimp can turn rubbery quickly.Once the shrimp are done, transfer them to a plate. You want to stop the cooking fast so they stay tender. This same method works well for other shrimp recipe ideas too, especially when you want juicy seafood in a creamy sauce.
3-Third Step: Make the garlic sauceLower the heat to medium and add the butter to the same skillet. Let it melt, then stir in the minced garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant. The garlic should smell amazing, but it should not brown. Browning can make the sauce taste bitter.Next, pour in the white wine and stir, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Those little bits add a lot of flavor. Let the wine simmer for about 1 minute so the alcohol cooks off and the sauce starts to deepen.
4-Fourth Step: Add the cream and seasoningSlowly pour in the heavy cream and stir in the Italian seasoning. Let the sauce come to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Keep stirring now and then so it stays smooth. After a minute or two, the sauce will begin to thicken slightly.At this point, add the shredded white cheddar cheese a little at a time, stirring after each addition. This helps it melt smoothly into the sauce instead of clumping. The sauce should look creamy, glossy, and rich. If you want a lighter creamy shrimp recipe, you can simmer a little longer with a touch less cheese, but the full version gives that cozy, satisfying finish.
5-Fifth Step: Return the shrimp to the panAdd the cooked shrimp back into the skillet and toss them gently in the sauce. Let them warm through for about 1 minute. This short finish lets the shrimp soak up the garlic cream flavor without getting overdone.If the sauce looks too thick, add a splash of warm water, broth, or extra wine. If it looks too thin, let it simmer for another minute. Small adjustments like this help you make the dish fit your taste and your skillet.
6-Final Step: Garnish and serveTurn off the heat and sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the top. This gives the creamy garlic shrimp a fresh color and a little bright flavor that balances the rich sauce. Serve right away while the sauce is warm and silky.This dish tastes wonderful over pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or even roasted vegetables. For a heartier dinner, you can also spoon it next to a simple salad and crusty bread. If you love creamy pasta meals, you might also enjoy this creamy beef and bowtie pasta on another busy night.
Notes
🦐 Pat shrimp dry before cooking for a better sear and to avoid excess moisture in the sauce.
🧄 Use fresh minced garlic and don’t let it brown to prevent bitterness in the cream sauce.
🍷 Deglaze the pan with white wine to capture all flavorful browned bits for maximum taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Seafood
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 pound shrimp
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 25g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 400mg
Keywords: creamy garlic shrimp, jumbo shrimp recipe, easy seafood pasta, cheddar cream sauce
