Description
A bold and smoky twist on classic pasta, this Chipotle Spaghetti with Shrimp features a creamy chipotle sauce, succulent shrimp, and perfectly cooked spaghetti. Quick, easy, and packed with flavor, it’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or a gourmet homemade meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the pasta:
- 12 ounces spaghetti
- 1 tablespoon salt (for boiling water)
For the shrimp:
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the chipotle sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced (adjust for spice level)
- 1 teaspoon adobo sauce (from the can)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth (or reserved pasta water)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Juice of ½ lime
- ¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For garnish:
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
- Extra Parmesan cheese
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add spaghetti and cook until al dente according to package instructions.
- Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Sauté the Shrimp
- Pat shrimp dry and season with salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika.
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
- Cook shrimp for about 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque.
- Remove from pan and set aside.
- Make the Chipotle Sauce
- In the same pan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in minced chipotle peppers and adobo sauce. Cook for another 30 seconds.
- Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth (or reserved pasta water), stirring well.
- Simmer for about 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese, lime juice, salt, and black pepper.
- Combine Everything
- Add cooked spaghetti to the sauce and toss until well coated.
- Return shrimp to the pan and mix gently. Let everything heat through for about 1–2 minutes.
- Serve and Enjoy
- Garnish with fresh cilantro, extra Parmesan, and a squeeze of lime.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Less Spicy: Use just one chipotle pepper or skip the adobo sauce.
- More Creamy: Increase heavy cream to 1¼ cups for a richer texture.
- Vegetarian Option: Swap shrimp for grilled mushrooms or roasted bell peppers.
- Protein Alternatives: Try grilled chicken or salmon instead of shrimp.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free spaghetti or zucchini noodles.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-Italian Fusion
Keywords: chipotle pasta, shrimp spaghetti, smoky pasta, creamy chipotle sauce, spicy shrimp pasta