Description
A lightning-fast, restaurant-quality creamy Tuscan shrimp dish featuring sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and Parmesan cheese. Ready in just 20 minutes, this gluten-free friendly meal is perfect for busy weeknights or date nights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb large shrimp (raw, peeled, deveined, thawed if frozen)
- Salt and black pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil
- 4–5 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (chopped, packed in oil)
- 1 cup heavy cream (full-fat)
- ½ cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- Fresh basil or parsley (for garnish)
- Lemon wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Thaw frozen shrimp under cold running water if necessary, then pat completely dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear shrimp in a single layer for 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque but not fully cooked. Remove to a plate, leaving the fond in the pan.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, adding a splash of sun-dried tomato oil if needed.
- Pour in chicken broth and scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 1 minute.
- Add heavy cream and Italian seasoning. Stir and simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Remove skillet from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add fresh spinach and stir until just wilted.
- Return shrimp to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Heat through for 1 minute.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt or a squeeze of lemon juice. Serve immediately over pasta, zucchini noodles, or with crusty bread, garnished with fresh herbs.
Notes
Pat shrimp dry thoroughly to ensure proper searing. Use full-fat heavy cream for the best texture. Grate Parmesan cheese yourself to avoid anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting. Remove pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent graininess. Sun-dried tomato oil adds significant flavor; save it for cooking. This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy content.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 38
- Saturated Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: Tuscan shrimp, creamy shrimp, sun-dried tomato shrimp, quick dinner, gluten-free dinner, weeknight meals, easy seafood recipe