The creamy sun-dried tomato sauce is so addicting and it only takes a few ingredients.
jump toRECIPE
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you. Please read my policy page.
This creamy sun-dried tomato pasta is a simple yet flavorful dish, made with just a handful of ingredients. Sautéed mushrooms and tender shrimp are tossed in a rich, velvety sun-dried tomato cream sauce and served over fettuccine for an easy, restaurant-quality dinner with Mediterranean flair.
This recipe is inspired by a dish from Taverna Tony in Malibu, a favorite of mine since my freshman year of college. After a long week, I’d treat myself to a takeout order so big it would last for multiple meals—far better than anything from the dorm cafeteria! Now, I’ve recreated this comforting shrimp fettuccine at home, making it perfect for a quick weeknight dinner the whole family will love. The creamy, tangy sauce coats each strand of pasta, complementing the savory mushrooms and juicy shrimp for the ultimate bite.
Sun dried tomatoes – When buying sun dried tomatoes for this dish make sure you get the ones packed in olive oil not the dried kind that come in a bag. Since they are packed in olive oil the tomatoes are flavorful moist tomatoes instead of ones that can be hard to chew.
Shrimp – The terms “jumbo” and “extra jumbo” and “colossal” aren’t standardized terms within the industry. Instead look at the numbers – they estimate approximately how many shrimp are in 1 pound. The shrimp should be peeled and deveined before beginning the recipe.
Mushrooms – I typically use crimini also known as baby Bella mushrooms when I cook. They have a meatier, earthier mushroom flavor compared to white mushrooms. I recommend buying whole mushrooms and slicing them yourself so they are more evenly cut than pre-cut mushrooms. Use a damp paper towel to wipe away dirt before slicing the mushrooms.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Shrimp Fettuccine with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
Step 1: Sauté shallots and garlic.
Place a medium saucepan over medium heat, add 3 tablespoons of butter and allow to melt. Add the shallot and garlic and sauté until the shallot is soft and translucent, about 4 minutes.
Step 2: Make roux.
Add the flour and cook, whisking until pale golden brown, about 30 seconds.
Step 3: Finish sauce.
Stir in the tomato paste followed by the milk, whisking until completely combined. Lower heat to medium-low and let simmer, whisking occasionally, until the sauce has thickened, about 10 minutes.
Step 4: Add the sun dried tomatoes.
Stir in the sun dried tomatoes. Remove from heat then cover and set aside.
Step 5: Cook pasta.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water then drain and return the pasta to the pot.
Step 6: Cook shrimp.
In a large sauté pan over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and heat through. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter and allow to melt. Add the shrimp and sauté on both sides until pink and no longer translucent, about 1½ minutes per side. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside on a plate.
Step 7: Cook mushrooms.
Return the pan to heat, add the remaining olive oil and heat through. Add the remaining butter and allow to melt. Working in batches, add the mushrooms to the pan and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms reduce in size as not to overcrowd the pan. Continue to cook until all mushrooms have been added and they are golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes.
Step 8: Assemble pasta.
Add the sauce and mushroom mixture to the cooked pasta and toss until thoroughly coated in the sauce. Stir in the pasta cooking water ¼ cup at a time, tossing to combine. Add more pasta cooking water if needed. Stir in half of the parsley.
Step 9: Serve.
Divide the fettuccine with sun dried tomato cream sauce among warmed pasta bowls and top with shrimp. Garnish with parsley and serve.
Expert Tips for the Best Creamy Shrimp Pasta
Sous Vide Cooking Instructions
Sous vide is a method of cooking food by vacuum sealing it in a bag and slowly cooking it in a water bath at an exact temperature. It is an easy method of perfectly cooking foods. Since the shrimp are cooked using a sous vide method they are perfectly tender. I like using this method because it ensures even cooking and makes it hard to overcook (which can be easily done with shrimp).
Attach the sous vide machine to a large container filled with enough water to reach the minimum line without exceeding the maximum line. Turn the sous vide on and allow it to heat to 149°F (65ºC).
Add the shrimp and remaining tablespoon of butter to a large sealable plastic bag and remove all the air either using a vacuum or by submerging the air in water until the air has left then seal the bag.
Cook the shrimp in the bag for 15 minutes. Remove the bag and add the shrimp to the pasta dish.
Variations and Substitutions
Swap the fettuccine with another long pasta shape of choice like pappardelle, bucatini or even spaghetti.
The shrimp can be swapped for another protein like chicken if desired.
Can I make this Shrimp Pasta Ahead of time?
Though it’s best fresh if you need to reheat this pasta I recommend doing so in a pot over low heat. Cover the pot and add a bit of pasta cooking water or water to thin the sauce if it gets too thick or clumpy. Toss the noodles occasionally until heated through.
Other Recipes to Try
If you enjoy this fettuccine in sun dried tomato cream sauce recipe, I recommend checking out these:
½cupolive oil packed sun-dried tomatoes,drained and sliced
1pounddried fettuccine pasta
4tablespoonsextra-virgin olive oil,divided
1poundjumbo shrimp (16/20 per pound), peeled and deveined
1poundcrimini (baby bella) mushrooms,sliced
2tablespoonschopped flat-leaf parsley,divided
Instructions:
Place a medium saucepan over medium heat, add 3 tablespoons of butter and allow to melt. Add the shallot and garlic and sauté until the shallot is soft and translucent, about 4 minutes.
Add the flour and cook, whisking until pale golden brown, about 30 seconds.
Stir in the tomato paste followed by the milk, whisking until completely combined. Lower heat to medium-low and let simmer, whisking occasionally, until the sauce has thickened, about 10 minutes.
Stir in the sun dried tomatoes. Remove from heat then cover and set aside.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water then drain and return the pasta to the pot.
In a large sauté pan over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and heat through. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter and allow to melt. Add the shrimp and sauté on both sides until pink and no longer translucent, about 1½ minutes per side. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside on a plate.
Return the pan to heat, add the remaining olive oil and heat through. Add the remaining butter and allow to melt. Working in batches, add the mushrooms to the pan and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms reduce in size as not to overcrowd the pan. Continue to cook until all mushrooms have been added and they are golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes.
Add the sauce and mushroom mixture to the cooked pasta and toss until thoroughly coated in the sauce. Add ¼ cup of the pasta cooking water, tossing to combine. Add more pasta cooking water if needed. Stir in half of the parsley.
Divide the pasta among warmed pasta bowls and top with shrimp. Garnish with parsley and serve.
so yummy and so easy!! Tastes sooo much like Taverna Tonys-will be making this weekly!
So happy to hear it, thank you so much for sharing Mallory!!!