This creamy garlic Tuscan shrimp recipe with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and basil is rich, decadent, and ready in about 15 minutes!
You may also like my Creamy Lemon Garlic Parmesan Shrimp or this Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi recipe.
Why you'll love it
This creamy Tuscan shrimp recipe is one of those dinners that makes it seem like you tried very hard, but the minimal time and effort involved makes it perfect for weeknights! It's super easy, quick, and really, really tasty and impressive.
The classic flavors of sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and basil are the ideal bright contrast to the cream, and it all just goes so well together. And there's plenty of garlic. Nobody can say no to this restaurant-quality shrimp recipe whenever we serve it for easy entertaining.
Ingredients you'll need
- Shrimp - I used frozen ones that are deveined and already peeled for convenience.
- Butter and flour - to make a quick roux that'll thicken up the sauce
- Garlic - we're pretty generous here, but add even more if you like! This garlic press makes mincing effortless without having to peel the cloves.
- Heavy cream - to make the sauce luxurious. I wouldn't sub it out for anything else.
- Lemon juice - for a little bit of acidity and brightness. Always use freshly squeezed.
- Italian seasoning - it's a versatile blend of dried herbs in a single jar that includes rosemary and thyme and others to jazz up so many dishes
- Sun-dried tomatoes - one of our star components that plays so well with the basil
- Spinach and basil - for a burst of freshness, texture, and flavor
Pro tip
- I don't recommend subbing the cream for something like half-and-half of milk since the sauce may curdle and it'll end up thinner and less rich. You'd have to add more flour for the sauce to thicken properly as well.
How to make Tuscan shrimp
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the flour to make a roux, followed by the garlic. Stir in the cream, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, and sun-dried tomatoes and simmer.
Add in the shrimp, and cook until they're pink and cooked through and the sauce has thickened up a bit. Stir in the spinach and basil and simmer until wilted. Season with salt & pepper and serve immediately. Top with a squeeze of lemon and fresh parmesan if desired.
Shrimp tips for success
- I used 31-40 count size shrimp in this Tuscan garlic butter shrimp recipe. Technically these are considered large shrimp, but to me they're more of a medium size when compared to some of the REALLY large shrimp out there. Anyway, any medium-to-large shrimp would work. To thaw, just run under cool water.
- Unless you live right by the ocean, frozen shrimp are actually a great choice because the ones at the seafood counter are usually just thawed anyway and less fresh when you get them.
- I prefer using raw shrimp in 99% of recipes, including this one, because they cook very fast and double-cooking can lead to rubbery shrimp. You could use already cooked shrimp, but be sure to just heat them through!
- I don't take the tails off the shrimp (mostly for the photos to add some contrast), but feel free to take them off if you prefer.
Substitutions and variations
- If you're not a fan of sun-dried tomatoes, you could use a chopped fresh tomato, but then it will no longer be that iconic Tuscan flavor combo. Also, the sauce may end up thinner, but you're welcome to try it that way.
- I highly suggest using fresh spinach, but in a pinch you can use frozen as long as you thaw it and thoroughly squeeze out all the excess water. But do try to get your hands on the fresh variety for the full experience!
How to serve Tuscan shrimp
- They're great served over pasta, rice, or Mashed Potatoes.
- A dusting of freshly grated parmesan over top would be extremely tasty.
- You can also just eat this recipe as-is and grab a big slice of crusty bread for all that delicious sauce! Or go all out and have a slice of Garlic Bread.
- Pair it with a side salad. Try mixed greens with this Easy Italian Dressing.
Leftovers and storage
- These creamy Tuscan shrimp will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container. Make sure you don't leave them sitting out for too long before refrigerating leftovers, though.
- I wouldn't recommend freezing this since the cream sauce won't hold up well.
- To reheat, warm up slowly in a small saucepan over a low heat so the sauce doesn't separate, stirring occasionally.
Questions, or want to leave a review? Talk to me in the comments below! 🙂 You can also tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram.
Creamy Tuscan Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp (I used 31-40 count size) thawed & peeled
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon flour
- 4-5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped or julienned
- 1-2 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach
- Handful fresh basil cut into thin strips
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt the butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the flour and cook for about a minute, stirring until smooth.
- Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds or until fragrant.
- Stir in the cream, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, and sun-dried tomatoes. Simmer for 2 minutes. Reduce heat if it's bubbling too much.
- Add the shrimp and cook for around 5 minutes or until they're cooked through and the sauce is slightly thickened, taking care not to overcook them.
- Add the spinach and basil and cook for another 2 minutes. Season with salt & pepper as needed. Serve immediately. I like to squeeze extra lemon juice over top when serving (up to you). You could also grate some fresh parmesan over top if you wish.
Notes
- I used sun-dried tomatoes that were packed in oil (I drained the oil). Feel free to use more or less than suggested.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on November 29, 2017. It's been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!
Rachel says
well, this was literally amazing. Thank you!
Natasha says
Aww thank you!!
Claudia W. says
Made this dish with Argentine red shrimp and it was absolutely delicious. Served with broccoli and cauliflower and really was fantastic. The sauce was so delicious and Complimented the vegetables on point.
Natasha says
Yay!! Glad to hear it, Claudia!
Sharon Scott says
Love this recipe! I’ve made this a few times and keep playing around with it. I sauté 1 1/2 cups of mushrooms with the garlic in butter. Remove from the pan. Proceed making 1-1/2 times the sauce ingredients, adding a little white wine. Return the mushroom mixture to the pan when adding the shrimp. After adding the spinach and basil, I add 12 oz. cooked potato gnocchi. It’s a beautiful one-pot meal!
Thank you for your delicious recipes!
Natasha says
Thank you!! That sounds delish!
Leanna says
Thank you for your special tips Sharon! I made it and it turned our delicious! New family staple 🙂
Colleen says
Delicious and super easy to make!!!!
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
That's awesome to hear, Colleen!
Becky says
Excellent recipe!!! Thanks!!! Doubled the recipe to serve 6. Was amazing!!! Served over orzo Fantastic!!!
Natasha says
You're very welcome, Becky! 🙂
Karen says
Can you make this recipe with chicken breast. Husband is allergic to shrimp
Natasha says
Yes, I actually have a chicken version here: https://bit.ly/3Ei7BE3
Judy Schneider says
I made this and my family loved it. We were just 3 adults and there weren’t leftovers. The sauce was a bit thick so I added chicken broth and white wine. Also doubled up on the garlic. It was so quick to make. I’ll definitely be making this again. Next time dinner party for 8.
Natasha says
I'm so glad it was a hit, Judy!! 😀
Mrs King says
Easy, quick, recipe that brings the restaurant home. I used fresh kale instead of spinach and was surprised that it only needed the same amount of time to cook as spinach. I also recommend adding the fresh garlic on low heat instead of medium high since garlic burns quickly and easily on the stove. For the salt and pepper. I added 1/2 teaspoon and a little more pepper. I look forward to trying this dish with the spinach along with a hint of white wine and other ingredients in the future. This is a keeper!
Natasha says
So glad you liked it!
Taunya says
I make your recipes all of the time. They are always wonderful and better than a restaurant! This is my family’s favorite so far. Excellent! Thank you!
Natasha says
Aww that's so nice to hear! Thank you! 😀
lissette hernandez says
This was oh so good!! My family loved it, and it was so easy to make. We will definitely be having this more often. Thanks for an amazing meal.
Natasha says
Wonderful!! Thank you and you're very welcome! 😀
Jody says
This recipe is also excellent with mahi mahi. To reduce carbs I put it over cauliflower rice. Easy and delicious, this recipe is a keeper!
Natasha says
Love that!! Thanks, Jody!
Jennifer says
My 3 boys all approved of this recipe. They absolutely LOVED it. One of my boys asked me what it was called and what was in it. It was a nice change from Shrimp Alfredo. Thanks so much for sharing this delicious and yet simple dish! 💖(I used less spinach as I didn’t have two cups. It came out just fine.)
Natasha says
Yay!! You're very welcome! So pleased everyone liked it, Jennifer. Thanks for letting me know!