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Calabrian Chili Shrimp Pasta
A Spicy Kitchen

Calabrian Chili Shrimp Pasta

This Calabrian Chili Shrimp Pasta is rich, creamy, and packed with savory flavor and a subtle kick of heat. It’s a comforting, satisfying dish that comes together in less than 30 minutes—perfect for an easy yet impressive meal.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 757

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound 16-20 large shrimp, peeled with tails on
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (Or you can use the oil from the jar of sundried tomatoes)
  • 1 medium shallot peeled and minced
  • 3 garlic cloves peeled and minced
  • 4 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 4 teaspoons Calabrian chili
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil diced
  • 1 cup chicken or vegetarian broth
  • 1 ½ cups heavy cream
  • ½ pound spaghetti
  • 2 cups baby spinach (about 2 ounces)
  • ¼ cup finely grated Parmesan-Reggiano plus more for garnish
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Chopped parsley for garnish

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Large skillet
  • pair of tongs
  • spatula or wooden spoon

Method
 

  1. Fill a large pot with water. Salt the water generously and set it over medium-high heat. We'll need this ready for boiling our pasta.
  2. Now, sprinkle the shrimp with kosher salt on both sides. In a large skillet set over medium heat, add the olive oil (or oil from the sundried tomatoes). When the oil is warm, add the shrimp in one even layer. Cook on each side for about 1-2 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
  3. Add in a few more teaspoons of olive oil, if needed. Add in the minced shallot and garlic. Cook until softened, about 1-2 minutes. Then add in the tomato paste, Calabrian chili and sundried tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally for 1-2 minutes.
  4. Add the chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring and gently scraping up bits from the pan. Bring to a gentle simmer. Cook on low heat for about 8 minutes until the sauce has thickened and coats the back of the spoon. Give it a taste and adjust the salt if needed, I added about ¼ teaspoon.
  5. To the pot of boiling water, drop in the spaghetti and cook until al dente.
  6. Use tongs to carefully transfer the pasta directly from the pot to the sauce, we want some residual water from the pasta. Then add the parmesan along with the spinach and butter. Toss everything together until combined. Add the shrimp back to the pot to heat through.
  7. Divide pasta amongst bowls. Then garnish with grated parmesan and chopped parsley.

Notes

  • Don’t overcook the shrimp. Pull them as soon as they turn pink; they’ll finish cooking when added back to the pasta.
  • Salt the pasta water generously. This is your main chance to season the noodles from the inside.
  • Adjust richness to taste. If the sauce feels too thick, loosen it with a splash of pasta water.
  • Storage & Reheating
    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave with a splash of broth or water to loosen the sauce. Avoid high heat to keep the shrimp tender.