This Shrimp Scampi Bake is really quick and easy twist on the classic. You cook the noodles then toss them with a cream-cheese and garlic sauce and shrimp. Bake until it’s all heated through. So good. So easy.
Shrimp scampi. Mmmmmm. Shrimp and butter with garlic and lemon. Add a splash of white wine for good measure (and pour yourself a glass to sip while you cook).
How could that possibly be bad? No way. But, I think I’ve made it better. I’ve turned it into a pasta bake.
Scroll down to read more about how it all comes together or click here to jump straight down to the recipe.
What Is Shrimp Scampi?
Shrimp scampi is a seafood dish made with shrimp in a sauce made of butter, white wine, and garlic. While it’s sometimes served on its own, it is often served over pasta. So, why not turn it into a pasta bake?
Ingredients
For the pasta, I like to use spaghetti noodles, but you could use linguine or another similar size noodle. Save some of the pasta water too!
And of course, we need the classic ingredients of shrimp along with butter and minced garlic – feel free to add some white wine as well, but it’s optional in this recipe.
For this pasta bake recipe, we’ll also be adding cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, fresh parsley, and lemon.
Making Shrimp Scampi Pasta Bake
Cook the pasta noodles, remembering to reserve some of the cooking water. Preheat the oven to 350°F while the pasta boils.
Microwave the cream cheese and butter until melted and whisk it together well. To that mixture, add the pasta water, parsley, lemon zest, garlic, and some salt and black pepper.
Add the drained pasta to a baking dish along with the sauce mixture and stir together well. Add in your raw shrimp and half the mozzarella cheese and mix together. Top with the rest of the mozzarella and put in the oven.
Bake until the shrimp are cooked through and the cheese is starting to brown, about 30 minutes.
Get yourself a hearty slice of bread with garlic butter, and maybe a green salad or a side of roasted broccoli and you’ve got the tastiest Shrimp Scampi dinner ever.
More Delicious Pasta Dinner Recipes
If you love a good pasta dinner as much as I do, be sure to try my favorite pasta recipes, linked to below. And, when in search of just the right thing to make for dinner on a weeknight, go over and browse all of my Weeknight Dinner Recipes – there are over 300 of them!
- Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
- Caprese Pasta Salad
- Pasta Carbonara Made With Greek Yogurt
- Pasta With Sausage And Greens
Enjoy! -Christine xo
Podcast Episode About Making The Shrimp Scampi Bake
Listen to Christine explain briefly about how to make this pasta, with some great tips along the way, by clicking the play button below:
Listen to over 650 recipes like this on the Recipe of the Day podcast over here.
PrintShrimp Scampi Pasta Bake Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Entrée
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian
DESCRIPTION
This Shrimp Scampi Bake is really quick and easy twist on the classic. You cook the noodles then toss them with a cream-cheese and garlic sauce and shrimp. Bake until it’s all heated through. So good. So easy.
Ingredients
- 12 oz. uncooked spaghetti
- 4 oz. cream cheese
- 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp. lemon zest
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. black pepper
- 1 and 1/2 lb. raw, peeled, tail-off medium-sized shrimp
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Cook the spaghetti according to package directions but scoop out 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid just before you drain it the pasta.
- Meanwhile, put the cream cheese and butter in a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir. Repeat until butter is melted. Use a whisk to really stir it up and get it incorporated together. Stir in the 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water, the parsley, garlic, lemon zest, salt, and pepper.
- Transfer the drained pasta to a 9 x 13″ cake pan or casserole. Add the cream cheese sauce and stir to combine. Add the raw shrimp and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella. Stir again. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese.
- Bake until shrimp are cooked through (you can tell because they’ve all turned really pink and curled up) and the cheese on top is starting to brown, about 30 minutes.
Love this recipe? I’d appreciate it if you could scroll down and add a *5 star rating* to help others know they’ll love it as well!
This post was originally published in September of 2015 and was revised in August 2023.
Patricia says
I had to omit the parsley due to a food allergy in my household. But it still turned out wonderfully. Something I will for sure make again since it doesn’t take up too much time to make.
Christine Pittman says
Patricia, It is such a quick and easy recipe. Glad you liked it!
Natalya says
Made this last night. Had a little difficulty blending the sauce, don’t think it was warm enough. Added lightly steamed broccoli and tomatoes, turned out pretty good and hubby was s huge fan.
Christine Pittman says
Natalya, Yes, the sauce is tough to get mixed together but it does get there after a couple of minutes of stirring. Your variation with the added veggies sounds delicious. Glad you guys enjoyed it!
Nutmeg Nanny says
What a hearty and delicious sounding pasta dish! I love all the flavors and of course who doesn’t love pasta and shrimp….yum!
Miss @ MIss in the Kitchen says
What a fabulous dinner for busy weeknights!
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says
I love how easy this is! I am definitely trying this…I know my family will love this recipe!
Laura @MotherWouldKnow says
This quick and easy shrimp dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner. I normally saute shrimp, but I like the idea of baking them.