This week, my favorite dish was this Creamy Shrimp Penne Pasta With Red Pepper Sauce! I love this recipe because it's very family friendly. It's made with roasted red bell peppers so it's not spicy at all. If you don't have kids and what to spicy it up, feel free to throw in some chopped Habaneros or Jalapeños!
HOW TO MAKE THE CREAMY SHRIMP PENNE PASTA WITH RED PEPPER SAUCE:
First, chop what needs to be chopped and prep all the ingredients to begin. Before I start cooking the shrimp, I process the roasted red bell pepper in a food processor to make it into puree sauce. I buy the ones packed in oil from the grocery stores but feel free to grill yours. Then dice the onions into super small pieces. Cook the pasta and reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
PEPARING THE SHRIMP FOR THE CREAMY SHRIMP PENNE PASTA:
Prep the shrimps by marinating with some lemon juice, black pepper and salt. Heat a skillet with 1 tbsp. of olive oil and cook the shrimps until they are fully cooked. They are usually done in about 5 minutes. They will also cook for a couple more minutes when you prepare with the pasta. So no need to over cook them at this point. Remove the shrimps and place in a bowl.
In the same skillet, place another tablespoon of olive oil and sauté the onions until they are translucent in color. Add in the black pepper, cream cheese, garlic powder, paprika, the processed red pepper and salt. I added 1/2 tsp. of pepper flakes, which only gives a hint of spice but not enough to be spicy for the kids. You can totally take that out. It's optional. I also added 1 cup of pasta water and 1/2 cup of heavy cream. Mix everything together while breaking up the cream cheese and let the sauce simmer on low for a few minutes to obtain a creamy sauce.
Add in the cooked pasta, shrimp and 2 tbsps. freshly chopped basil. Cook everything together for 5 minutes so the pasta absorbs the sauce (while covered). Remove the skillet from heat and grate some fresh parmesan cheese on top before serving. This Creamy Shrimp Penne Pasta With Red Pepper Sauce recipe is very simple and a perfect filling meal for the family during weekdays or even busy weekends. I hope you enjoy it and share it with friends and family. You can save it to your Pinterest board by pinning it as well. Have a great week! Xoxo...
OTHER PASTA RECIPES YOU MAY LIKE:
Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Pasta
Creamy Chicken and Tomato Pasta
Jalapeño Cheddar Mac N’ Cheese
Creamy Shrimp Penne Pasta With Red Pepper Sauce
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs raw shrimp
- 8 oz. penne pasta uncooked
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsps. olive oil
- 1 cup pasta water
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 4 oz roasted red bell pepper pureed
- 1 tsp. salt +sprinkle a dash on the shrimp
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. black pepper + sprinkle on shrimp
- 1 tsp. paprika
- 2 tbsps. fresh basil chopper
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp. chili flakes optional
Instructions
- Chop and prep all the ingredients to begin.
- Process the roasted red bell pepper in a food processor to make it into puree sauce.
- Dice the onions into super small pieces. Cook the pasta and reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
- Prep the shrimps by marinating with some lemon juice, black pepper and salt.
- Heat a skillet with 1 tbsp. of olive oil and cook the shrimps until they are almost fully cooked. About 5 minutes. Remove the shrimps and place in a bowl.
- In the same skillet, place another tablespoon of olive oil and sauté the onions until they are translucent in color.
- Add in the black pepper, cream cheese, garlic powder, paprika, the processed red pepper and salt. Add 1 cup of pasta water and 1/2 cup of heavy cream. Mix everything together while breaking up the cream cheese and let the sauce simmer on low for a few minutes to obtain a creamy sauce.
- Add in the cooked pasta, shrimp and 2 tbsps. freshly chopped basil. Cook everything together for 5 minutes so the pasta absorbs the sauce (while covered).
- Remove the skillet from heat and grate some fresh parmesan cheese on top before serving.
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