Description

This One Pot “Marry Me” Shrimp and Orzo Pasta is a creamy, flavorful dish featuring sautéed shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, tender orzo pasta, and fresh spinach all cooked together in a rich sauce with garlic, smoked paprika, and parmesan. It’s a quick, satisfying meal perfect for weeknights or cozy dinners.

Ingredients

Scale

Shrimp Marinade and Cooking

1 pound shrimp (thawed, drained, and patted dry)
2 tablespoons sun-dried tomato oil (reserved from the jar)
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika

Orzo and Sauce

2 tablespoons butter
4 cloves garlic (minced)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red chili pepper flakes
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup heavy cream
8 oz orzo (about 2 cups uncooked)
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (drained and julienned)
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
2 cups baby spinach

Garnish

Minced fresh parsley or sliced basil leaves

Instructions

Marinate and Cook Shrimp: Toss the shrimp with sun-dried tomato oil, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and smoked paprika until evenly coated. Heat a pan over medium heat and sauté the shrimp briefly until they turn pink and are cooked through. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside. If the shrimp releases any water while cooking, drain the liquid and wipe the pan dry quickly before proceeding.
Sauté Aromatics: In the same pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, sautéing for about two minutes until fragrant but not browned.
Cook Orzo and Simmer Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth, heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, orzo, Italian seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Stir well and bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and cook for about 10 minutes or until the orzo is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
Finish the Dish: Once the orzo is tender, stir in the parmesan cheese and baby spinach until the spinach wilts and the cheese melts into a creamy sauce. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper to taste.
Add Shrimp and Garnish: Return the cooked shrimp to the pan and gently combine. Sprinkle with minced fresh parsley or sliced basil leaves before serving for a fresh, vibrant finish.

Notes

For a spicier dish, increase the crushed red pepper flakes according to taste.
You can substitute the chicken broth with vegetable broth to make the dish pescatarian-friendly.
Be careful not to overcook the shrimp as they can become tough and rubbery.
Use freshly grated parmesan for best flavor and melting quality.
This recipe works well with pre-cooked shrimp if you want to skip the first cooking step; just add them in at the end to warm through.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: shrimp pasta, one pot meal, orzo recipe, creamy shrimp pasta, sun-dried tomato pasta, quick dinner, easy shrimp recipe