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Flavorful Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta with Spicy Cream Sauce

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A quick and easy pasta dish featuring tender shrimp tossed in a creamy, spicy sauce with a perfect balance of heat and sweetness. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s a crowd-pleaser perfect for casual dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed frozen)
  • 8 ounces spaghetti or linguine (gluten-free pasta works well too)
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons sriracha sauce (adjust to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 stalks green onions, thinly sliced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: pinch of smoked paprika or cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente (usually 8-10 minutes). Drain and set aside, reserving about 1/2 cup pasta water. Toss pasta with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons sriracha, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, and 2 minced garlic cloves until smooth. Adjust heat by adding more sriracha or cayenne if desired. Set aside.
  3. Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt, pepper, and optionally smoked paprika.
  4. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer (cook in batches if needed). Sear shrimp for about 2 minutes on each side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
  5. Lower heat to medium-low. Add cooked pasta to the skillet and pour the spicy cream sauce over it. Toss well to coat, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time if the sauce is too thick.
  6. Return shrimp to the skillet and gently toss to combine. Heat for another minute until warmed through.
  7. Remove from heat and garnish with sliced green onions. Serve immediately with lime wedges if desired.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking shrimp to ensure a good sear. Pat shrimp dry before seasoning to avoid steaming. Reserve pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed. Mix sauce off heat to keep it creamy. For dairy-free, use vegan mayo and swap butter for olive oil. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 2 days and reheat gently in a skillet with added liquid.

Nutrition

Keywords: bang bang shrimp pasta, spicy cream sauce, shrimp pasta recipe, quick dinner, easy pasta, creamy spicy sauce

Find it online: https://forkifyfun.com/flavorful-bang-bang-shrimp-pasta-recipe-easy-spicy-cream-sauce-guide/