Easy Creamy Shrimp and Broccoli Pasta

This creamy shrimp and broccoli pasta recipe is quick and simple. It’s made with cream cheese, garlic, and pantry staples.

Shrimp and broccoli are a great combo, and since you know how much I love to make easy pasta recipes, I figured it was high time for a shrimp + broccoli pasta.

You may also like my shrimp and broccoli bowls!

I usually use heavy cream when making creamy pastas, but I decided to switch it up for this one. I love the tangy flavor that cream cheese brings to dishes, and it also makes a thicker sauce without having to worry about adding flour to it.

How to make shrimp and broccoli pasta

1. Get the pasta water boiling. Once the pasta’s on its way to being cooked, start the sauce;
2. In a skillet, cook the shrimp for 2 minutes/side and then take them out of the pan;
3. Cook the broccoli in the skillet with the pan covered for a few minutes;
4. Take the broccoli out and add the cream cheese, garlic, and Italian seasoning to the pan;
5. Add the shrimp and broccoli back, let everything heat through, and then drain the pasta and toss it with the sauce.

Pro tip: Want to add a little heat? Sprinkle some red pepper flakes on.

Use whatever type/shape pasta you have on hand. I used a mix of regular and whole wheat spaghetti in the photos to change it up a little.

What size shrimp do I use in this pasta?

I used 31-40/pound count frozen raw shrimp. Smaller or larger shrimp would work too!

A few recipe notes:

• If the sauce is too thick for whatever reason, add a little more chicken broth or pasta water to thin it out.
• I chopped the broccoli florets fairly small so they would cook faster, so keep that in mind.
• You can use frozen broccoli florets, and if you do, I’d give it a minute or two longer to cook (so they thaw out properly).

More shrimp pastas:

• Creamy Lemon Shrimp Pasta
• Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta
• Shrimp Pasta in a Rosé Sauce
• Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta Recipe
• Healthy Shrimp and Asparagus Pasta Recipe
• Shrimp and Bacon Pasta
• Creamy Shrimp and Chorizo Pasta with Mushrooms
• Easy Shrimp Alfredo

Will you give this broccoli and shrimp pasta recipe a try?

Questions? Let me know in the comments below.

4.94 from 16 votes

Creamy Shrimp and Broccoli Pasta

By Natasha Bull

This creamy shrimp and broccoli pasta recipe is quick and simple. It's made with cream cheese, garlic, and pantry staples. 

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4

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Ingredients 

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• ▢ 8 ounces uncooked pasta
• ▢ 1 pound uncooked (31-40/pound size) shrimp thawed & peeled
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 1 tablespoon butter
• ▢ 2 generous cups broccoli florets
• ▢ 1 cup chicken broth
• ▢ 8 ounces cream cheese softened and cut into cubes
• ▢ 4 cloves garlic minced
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ▢ Salt & pepper to taste
• ▢ Freshly grated parmesan cheese optional

Instructions 

• Prep your shrimp. If they're frozen, add them to a colander and run under cool water until thawed.
• Boil a salted pot of water for the pasta. Cook it al dente according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the pan's hot, add the shrimp. Cook for 2 minutes/side and then take them out of the pan and transfer to a plate.
• Add the broccoli to the pan and give it a good stir. Reduce the heat to medium. Cover the pan with a lid and let the broccoli cook for 3 minutes. If it's still too crisp for your liking, cover the pan for another minute or two. The broccoli may get a little brown on some parts, which I love because it adds extra flavor.
• Take the pan off the heat and transfer the broccoli to the same plate as the shrimp.
• Add the chicken broth, cream cheese, garlic, and Italian seasoning to the skillet. Return the pan to the heat and stir/whisk until the cream cheese has melted and it's a nice and creamy sauce.
• Add the shrimp and broccoli back into the pan and let it heat through. Season the sauce with salt & pepper as needed. Drain the pasta and toss with the sauce (prior to draining the pasta, you can add a little pasta water to thin the sauce if needed). Serve immediately with parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

• I chopped my broccoli into fairly small florets and they were tender-crisp with the recommended cooking time. 
• Instead of regular salt, try using some Tony's seasoning or Lawry's seasoning salt.

Nutrition

Calories: 585kcal, Carbohydrates: 50g, Protein: 36g, Fat: 28g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 249mg, Sodium: 572mg, Potassium: 669mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 1136IU, Vitamin C: 42mg, Calcium: 172mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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