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Garlic Orzo Tuscan Shrimp

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.

This has really great flavor and the majority of it, other than cooking the orzo pasta, is done in one pan. This recipe was updated and is also known as Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Shrimp.

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 impressive romantic date night meal.

a bowl with a spoon scooing out some shrimp, orzo pasta, mushrooms, spinach, and roasted red peppers in a yellow creamy sauce
Creamy Garlic Tuscan Shrimp

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Ingredients

(amounts are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of the post)

orzo pasta

butter

jarred minced garlic

shrimp (I buy peeled, deveined, tails off)

yellow onion

baby bella mushrooms

jarred roasted red peppers

heavy cream

Salt and pepper, to taste

baby spinach leaves

shredded Parmesan cheese

dried Italian herbs

fresh chopped parsley

Substitutions

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.

Equipment used for this recipe

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

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.

How to make Garlic Orzo Tuscan Shrimp

Step 1 – On a cutting board, dice the onion and slice the mushrooms.

sliced mushrooms and dice onions on a cutting board

Step 2 – Bring a medium sauce pan of water to a boil and cook the orzo pasta per package instructions, about 8 or 9 minutes. Drain the orzo using a colander and set aside.

Step 3 – While the orzo is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat and melt the butter.

Step 4 – 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.

pink shrimp cooking in a yellow butter sauce

Step 5 – Add the onions and mushrooms to the butter remaining in the skillet.

Step 6 – Stir in the roasted red peppers and fry for 1 – 2 minutes.

a pan filled with mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and onions in a yellow butter sauce

Step 7 – Reduce heat to medium low heat and add the heavy cream bringing it to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.

a pan filled with mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and onions in a creamy white sauce

Step 8 – Add salt and pepper to taste.

Step 9 – Stir in the spinach leaves and shredded Parmesan cheese. Allow the sauce to simmer for about a minute until cheese melts.

a pan filled with mushrooms, roasted red peppers, spinach and onions in a yellow butter sauce

Step 10 – Sprinkle the herbs and parsley over the mix and stir to combine.

Step 11 – Stir the shrimp and cooked orzo into the mixture. Serve and Enjoy.

a bowl filled creamy garlic tuscan shrimp and a spoon scooping some out
Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Shrimp

Pro tips

I buy shrimp that is packaged and is already peeled, deveined, and has tails removed. If you have to do these things yourself the prep time will take longer than listed.

Recipe FAQs

Would it work without the spinach?

Yes that’s fine, just leave it out and enjoy

I’m allergic to mushrooms what could I substitute?

It’s very hard to substitute mushroom 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 exactly the same result, but it might add a similar bulk to the dish. The other option is you can just leave them out completely.

You may also enjoy

a bowl filled with shrimp, orzo pasta, mushrooms, spinach, and roasted red peppers in a yellow creamy sauce and a spoon scooping some out

Garlic Orzo Tuscan Shrimp

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. This has really great flavor and the majority of it, other than cooking the orzo pasta, is done in one pan. Ready in 20 minutes!
4.41 from 264 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Seafood
Cuisine Italian
Servings 2
Calories 497 kcal

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
  • 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.
  • Bring a medium sauce pan of water to a boil and cook the orzo pasta per package instructions, about 8 or 9 minutes. Drain the orzo using a colander and set aside.
  • 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

  • I buy shrimp that is packaged and is already peeled, deveined, and has tails removed. If you have to do these things yourself the prep time will take longer than listed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 497kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 15gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 20gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 593mgPotassium: 531mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 3483IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 318mgIron: 2mg
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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!

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4.41 from 264 votes (252 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




Roselle Jones

Wednesday 20th of November 2024

I made this recipe tonight. Followed the recipe as shown. Absolutely delicious!! Will add to my meal rotation.

KACEE

Wednesday 30th of October 2024

SO YUMMY, ONLY CHANGE I MADE WAS ADDING SOME HOT ITALIAN SAUGAGE TO MAKE IT MORE MEATY. WILL MAKE A GAIN AND ADD TO MY MEAL PLANS.

Mmimi

Monday 21st of October 2024

Easy to prepare and so very good.

Adele

Saturday 12th of October 2024

This sounds great just as written. In a couple of weeks I need to make a main dish salad. I’m wondering if these ingredients would be good at room temperature. Maybe leaving the spinach raw? Any thoughts?

Zona House

Sunday 13th of October 2024

Hi Adele, I have not tried that but I do think it sounds like it would work great. I would make it and chill it in the fridge, then toss in the raw spinach just before serving. Please let me know if you try it and how it works out for you. Thanks :)

Adele

Saturday 12th of October 2024

This looks divine. I definitely want to try it as written but I need a main dish salad and I’m wondering if this recipe could be adapted to a salad. Maybe not cooking the spinach? Any thoughts?