Creamy Garlic Shrimp Stuffed Shells
Cuisine
Italian-American
Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
256 Minutes
Difficulty
Beginner Level
Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with juicy shrimp, creamy garlic Parmesan sauce, melted cheese, and fresh herbs.
Tags: creamy shrimp pasta, stuffed shells, shrimp pasta, garlic creamy shrimp pasta, stuffed shells, shrimp pasta, garlic parmesan, baked pasta, easy dinner, comfort food parmesan, baked pasta, easy dinner, comfort food
Categories: PASTA
Ingredients
- 20 jumbo conchiglioni pasta shells
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped if very large
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup reserved pasta water
Cooking Instructions
- 01
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a large white oval baking dish.
- 02
2. Cook the jumbo shells in salted boiling water until just al dente. Drain and reserve ¼ cup of the pasta water.
- 03
3. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shrimp, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for about 2–3 minutes per side, until pink and lightly golden. Remove from the heat.
- 04
4. In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
- 05
5. Reduce the heat to low. Add the cream cheese and heavy cream, stirring until smooth and creamy.
- 06
6. Stir in the Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and reserved pasta water. Continue stirring until you have a rich, silky garlic-Parmesan sauce.
- 07
7. Fold about half of the cooked shrimp into the creamy sauce. Keep the remaining shrimp for topping.
- 08
8. Spoon a little sauce into the bottom of the baking dish. Arrange the cooked shells snugly inside the dish, opening them upward.
- 09
9. Generously fill each shell with the creamy shrimp mixture. Spoon the remaining sauce over and around the shells.
- 10
10. Top each shell with the remaining shrimp and sprinkle evenly with mozzarella.
- 11
11. Bake uncovered for 18–22 minutes, until bubbling and golden around the edges. For extra browning, broil for 1–2 minutes at the end, watching closely.
- 12
12. Let the pasta rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with fresh parsley and a little cracked black pepper.
Chef notes
These creamy garlic shrimp stuffed shells are a comforting baked pasta dish made with tender jumbo shells, juicy seasoned shrimp, and a rich garlic Parmesan sauce. The shells bake until bubbly and golden, with melted cheese and beautifully browned shrimp on top. Fresh parsley and cracked black pepper add a bright finish. Perfect for an easy yet impressive family dinner.