Ooo, solid combo 😋 Here’s a creamy cheese shrimp penne with spinach—quick, cozy, and weeknight-friendly.
🧀🍤 Cheese Shrimp Penne Pasta with Spinach
Ingredients (2–3 servings):
- 250 g penne pasta
- 250–300 g shrimp, peeled & deveined
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup cooking cream (or half-and-half)
- ¾–1 cup grated cheese (Parmesan, mozzarella, or a mix)
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- Chili flakes (optional)
- Italian seasoning or dried oregano (optional)
Instructions:
- Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
- Season shrimp with salt and pepper.
- In a large pan, heat olive oil/butter over medium heat.
Add shrimp and cook 1–2 minutes per side until pink. Remove and set aside. - In the same pan, add garlic and sauté ~30 seconds (don’t burn it).
- Pour in cream, lower heat, and let it gently simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Add cheese, stirring until smooth and creamy. Use pasta water if sauce feels too thick.
- Toss in spinach and let it wilt.
- Add pasta and shrimp back in. Toss everything together.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Finish with chili flakes if you’re feeling bold.
Optional upgrades:
- A squeeze of lemon for brightness 🍋
- Mushrooms or sun-dried tomatoes
- Swap cream for cream cheese + milk for extra richness
Want it lighter, extra cheesy, or spicy?
