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This creamy garlic Tuscan shrimp recipe with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and basil is rich, decadent, and ready in about 15 minutes!
You may also like my Marry Me Shrimp Pasta or this Easy Shrimp Scampi recipe.
Why you’ll love it
This creamy Tuscan shrimp recipe is one of those dinners that makes it seem like you tried very hard, but the minimal time and effort involved makes it perfect for weeknights! It’s super easy, quick, and really, really tasty and impressive.
The classic flavors of sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and basil are the ideal bright contrast to the cream, and it all just goes so well together. And there’s plenty of garlic. Nobody can say no to this restaurant-quality shrimp recipe whenever we serve it for easy entertaining.
What you’ll need
- Shrimp – I used frozen ones that are deveined and already peeled for convenience
- Butter and flour – to make a quick roux that’ll thicken up the sauce
- Garlic – we’re pretty generous here, but add even more if you like! This garlic press makes mincing effortless without having to peel the cloves.
- Heavy cream – to make the sauce luxurious. I wouldn’t sub it out for anything else.
- Lemon juice – for a little bit of acidity and brightness
- Italian seasoning – it’s a versatile blend of dried herbs in a single jar to jazz up so many dishes
- Sun-dried tomatoes – one of our star components that plays so well with the basil
- Spinach and basil – for a burst of freshness, texture, and flavor
Pro tip
I don’t recommend subbing the cream for something like half-and-half of milk since the sauce may curdle and it’ll end up thinner and less rich. You’d have to add more flour for the sauce to thicken properly as well.
How to make Tuscan shrimp
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the flour to make a roux, followed by the garlic. Stir in the cream, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, and sun-dried tomatoes and simmer.
Add in the shrimp, and cook until they’re pink and cooked through and the sauce has thickened up a bit. Stir in the spinach and basil and simmer until wilted. Season with salt & pepper and serve immediately. Top with a squeeze of lemon and fresh parmesan if desired.
Shrimp tips for success
- I used 31-40 count size shrimp in this Tuscan garlic butter shrimp recipe. Technically these are considered large shrimp, but to me they’re more of a medium size when compared to some of the REALLY large shrimp out there. Anyway, any medium-to-large shrimp would work. To thaw, just run under cool water.
- Unless you live right by the ocean, frozen shrimp are actually a great choice because the ones at the seafood counter are usually just thawed anyway and less fresh when you get them.
- I prefer using raw shrimp in 99% of recipes, including this one, because they cook very fast and double-cooking can lead to rubbery shrimp. You could use already cooked shrimp, but be sure to just heat them through!
- I don’t take the tails off the shrimp (mostly for the photos to add some contrast), but feel free to take them off if you prefer.
Substitutions and variations
- Want to try this recipe with chicken? You will love my Creamy Tuscan Chicken recipe.
- If you’re not a fan of sun-dried tomatoes, you could use a chopped fresh tomato, but then it will no longer be that iconic Tuscan flavor combo. Also, the sauce may end up thinner, but you’re welcome to try it that way.
- I highly suggest using fresh spinach, but in a pinch you can use frozen as long as you thaw it and thoroughly squeeze out all the excess water. But do try to get your hands on the fresh variety for the full experience!
How to serve Tuscan shrimp
- They’re great served over pasta, rice, or Mashed Potatoes.
- You can also just eat this recipe as-is and grab a big slice of crusty bread for all that delicious sauce! Or go all out and have a slice of Garlic Bread.
- Pair it with a side salad. Try mixed greens with this Easy Italian Dressing.
Leftovers and storage
- These creamy Tuscan shrimp will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container. Make sure you don’t leave them sitting out for too long before refrigerating leftovers, though.
- I wouldn’t recommend freezing this since the cream sauce won’t hold up well.
- To reheat, warm up slowly in a small saucepan over a low heat so the sauce doesn’t separate, stirring occasionally.
Talk to me in the comments below if you made this easy Tuscan shrimp! You can also tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram.
Creamy Tuscan Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp (I used 31-40 count size) thawed & peeled
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon flour
- 4-5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped or julienned
- 1-2 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach
- Handful fresh basil cut into thin strips
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt the butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the flour and cook for about a minute, stirring until smooth.
- Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds or until fragrant.
- Stir in the cream, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, and sun-dried tomatoes. Simmer for 2 minutes. Reduce heat if it’s bubbling too much.
- Add the shrimp and cook for around 5 minutes or until they’re cooked through and the sauce is slightly thickened, taking care not to overcook them.
- Add the spinach and basil and cook for another 2 minutes. Season with salt & pepper as needed. Serve immediately. I like to squeeze extra lemon juice over top when serving (up to you). You could also grate some fresh parmesan over top if you wish.
Notes
- I used sun-dried tomatoes that were packed in oil (I drained the oil). Feel free to use more or less than suggested.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.
This recipe was originally published on November 29, 2017. It’s been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!
this was sooooo good, we dunked ciabatta bread into the juices and will add it to our go to recipes.
Love that!! Thank you, Mary! 😀
Fixed it Tonight for dinner. Added chopped bacon served in the beginning and stirred in some mozzarella at the end. Great dish…great recipe!!!
Glad you liked it, Dustin!
Made this tonight! I tweaked a couple things but it was amazing and my family loved it!
Yay!!
Incredible recipe!! Added in 1/4 cup slow roasted tomatoes too and it was to die for. Little parmesan on top and it was 10/10.
Yay!! So glad you liked it!
My family loved it! I used only 1/8 cup of sun dried tomatoes and added 3/4 cup of cherry tomatoes since I have a lot of them right now. Delicious!
Wonderful! 😀 Thanks, Kathie!
YUM! Made this last night after a very long day at work and it was so good I ate extra quick! I added Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes to the sauce and it was amazing. This one is going in my “make this again” pile.
I’m so happy it hit the spot, Rachel!
Can you make this ahead and keep in a warming drawer for 30 minutes?
You could try, but just be careful the shrimp don’t get overcooked.
What kind of sides would this work with besides pasta? I can’t wait to try it!!
Hi Samantha! There’s a section in the blog post under the heading “how to serve Tuscan shrimp”. Enjoy!
I use basmati rice!!
Delicious, even though I used dry basil and forgot to put the parmesan cheese on it at the end. I also wish I had added my pasta to the sauce for a minute or two prior to serving. I did have to sop up some of the sauce at the end with bread, it was that tasty!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
I absolutely LOVE this recipe!!!! (And so does my family!!) I made it exactly as stated, and the blend of flavors was phenomenal!!! I used penne pasta, cooked and added into the pan with the sauce. The longest part was boiling the pasta…. Everything else came together quickly. I’ve made this twice and will be making it again!!❤️❤️
I love that!! Thank you, Robin!