Ingredients
1 pound extra-large peeled and deveined shrimp (tails optional)
12 ounces gluten-free penne pasta (or 16 ounces rigatoni/penne)
1½ tablespoons sun-dried tomato oil (or 4 tablespoons divided as preferred)
2 tablespoons gluten-free flour (or ½ tablespoon all-purpose flour)
½ cup diced onions
3–4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes, diced
2 cups vegetable or low-sodium chicken broth (optionally replace ½ cup broth with dry white wine)
1 cup heavy cream or whipping cream
2 cups fresh diced or baby spinach
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (or ½ teaspoon dried oregano)
¼ to ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for serving)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Fresh chopped basil for garnish
Shrimp Seasoning
½ tablespoon smoked paprika
¾ tablespoon Italian seasoning
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente according to package instructions; drain and set aside.
2. Toss shrimp with smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Heat sun-dried tomato oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook shrimp about 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque, curling into a C-shape (avoid overcooking to prevent O-shape). Remove shrimp and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, melt butter (about 2 tablespoons) over medium-low heat. Sauté garlic, onions, sun-dried tomatoes, and tomato paste with crushed red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning until fragrant and tomato paste darkens (about 1-2 minutes).
4. Stir in flour and cook for about one minute to form a roux. Gradually whisk in broth (and wine if using) and heavy cream. Stir continuously and cook until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
5. Add diced spinach and cook until wilted. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy.
6. Gently fold in the cooked pasta and shrimp, heating through but avoiding breaking the pasta. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
7. Remove from heat, cover, and let rest 2-3 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
8. Serve garnished with fresh chopped basil and additional Parmesan cheese.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
🍤 Shrimp is perfectly cooked when curling into a C-shape; using a meat thermometer (165°F internal temp) can ensure doneness.
🍅 Using raw shrimp instead of pre-cooked offers better texture and flavor.
🍝 Avoid substituting heavy cream with lower-fat liquids to prevent sauce curdling.
- Prep Time: 5-15 minutes
- Resting: 2-3 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Gluten-Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 321 to 870 kcal
- Sugar: 2-7g
- Sodium: 390-1553mg
- Fat: 24-31g
- Saturated Fat: 14-19g
- Unsaturated Fat: Varies
- Trans Fat: None
- Carbohydrates: 9-53g
- Fiber: 2-3g
- Protein: 19-36g
- Cholesterol: Varies
