This Garlic Orzo Tuscan Shrimp is coated in a light and creamy Parmesan cheese sauce filled with garlic, roasted red peppers, baby bella mushrooms, onion, and spinach.
Table of Contents
- Why I love this recipe
- Expert Tips
- Recipe FAQs
- Reader Comments
- Process shots for Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Shrimp
- You may also enjoy
Why I love this recipe
This recipe is easy and quick, ready in just 20 minutes, yet it’s beautiful enough to impress a discerning eye. This small-batch recipe for two makes a great lunch, dinner, or an impressive romantic date-night meal.
This has a great flavor, and the majority of it, other than cooking the orzo pasta, is done in one pan.
Need a dessert to go with it? Try this Red Velvet Cake for Two, these Brownies with fresh Raspberry Sauce, or these Chocolate Peanut Butter Lava Cakes
Expert Tips
We swapped out the sun-dried tomatoes for roasted red peppers because we like it even better that way, but you can use either. Some also enjoy grape tomatoes cut in half.
I buy shrimp that are packaged and already peeled, deveined, and have tails removed. If you have to do these things yourself, the prep time will take longer than listed.
Orzo is a form of short-cut pasta, shaped like a large grain of rice. Orzo can be served alone, as a soup accompaniment, as part of a salad, pilaf, or baked in a casserole.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, that’s fine, just leave it out and enjoy
It’s very hard to substitute mushrooms with other things. You could use something kind of “meaty” like eggplant or maybe even squash like zucchini. I know they’re not going to get the same result, but it might add a similar bulk to the dish. The other option is you can just leave them out completely.
I would recommend lactose-free milk instead. I use the Fairlife brand and love it. I hope that helps 🙂
Reader Comments
Julie – This is a delicious recipe!! and super-easy, and you probably already have everything you need to make it.
Lisa – I made this tonite and it was FANTASTIC! Highly recommend.
Valerie – This is so yummy!!! I will be making this very often, thank you for such a great dish!!
Process shots for Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Shrimp
You may also enjoy
- Tuscan Chicken Sandwich
- Tuscan Chicken Soup
- Creamy Garlic Tuscan Chicken
- Shrimp and Scallop Pasta
- Baked Shrimp Scampi Pasta
- Shrimp Alfredo
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Garlic Orzo Tuscan Shrimp Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 3 teaspoons jarred minced garlic
- ½ pound shrimp (I buy peeled, deveined, tails off)
- ½ small yellow onion
- 3 baby bella mushrooms
- ¼ cup jarred roasted red peppers – drained (or sun dried tomatoes, or halved grape tomatoes)
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 ½ cups baby spinach leaves
- ⅓ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
- ½ Tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- On a cutting board, dice the onion and slice the mushrooms.
- While the orzo is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat and melt the butter.
- Add in the minced garlic and shrimp and fry two minutes on each side, until cooked through and pink. Transfer the shrimp to a bowl and set aside.
- Add the onions and mushrooms to the butter remaining in the skillet.
- Stir in the roasted red peppers and fry for 1 – 2 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium low heat and add the heavy cream bringing it to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir in the spinach leaves and shredded Parmesan cheese. Allow the sauce to simmer for about a minute until cheese melts.
- Sprinkle the herbs and parsley over the mix and stir to combine.
- Stir the shrimp and cooked orzo into the mixture. Serve and Enjoy.
Video
Notes
- We swapped out the sun-dried tomatoes for roasted red peppers because we like it even better that way, but you can use either. Some also enjoy grape tomatoes cut in half.
- I buy shrimp that are packaged and already peeled, deveined, and have tails removed. If you have to do these things yourself, the prep time will take longer than listed.
- Orzo is a form of short-cut pasta, shaped like a large grain of rice. Orzo can be served alone, as a soup accompaniment, as part of a salad, pilaf, or baked in a casserole.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
Nutrition
Hi, and welcome. I’m Zona, and I have a passion for recipes. I share recipes, tips, tricks, and resources to help you cook for two. Eat, drink, and enjoy!
Jane
Sunday 22nd of June 2025
So delicious. My husband loves this so I make it a couple of times in a month.
Jennifer
Tuesday 17th of June 2025
Oh My God we love this!!!!! I made it with dairy free heavy whipping cream and it was still great. Don’t wait its really great . YUM
Gail
Saturday 14th of June 2025
Delicious! This goes into the rotation!
Pam
Tuesday 10th of June 2025
This was absolutely delicious! My husband and I loved it and it is now in my “Do It Again” file.
I used regular mushrooms and added some red pepper flakes and extra shrimp but wow, so good!
Kathryn Clark
Friday 30th of May 2025
I made this delicious recipe tonight with Swiss chard from my garden instead of spinach. It was just as good! Also, I couldn’t buy heavy cream locally so I used sour cream, thinned with a little whole milk. Perfect!