The Best Creamy Asparagus Pasta Recipe: Quick & Family-Friendly

Creamy asparagus pasta changes ordinary ingredients into a luxurious dining experience that promises comfort and sophistication.

Green stalks and silky sauce intertwine, creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors that dance across your palate.

Seasonal vegetables elevate this dish from simple to spectacular, offering a delightful way to enjoy fresh produce.

Delicate yet robust, the recipe balances nutritional goodness with indulgent creaminess that feels both familiar and exciting.

Smooth sauces coat tender pasta strands, allowing each bite to deliver maximum satisfaction and culinary pleasure.

Rich ingredients come together effortlessly, making this meal ideal for weeknight dinners or special gatherings with friends and family.

Minimal kitchen skills are required to craft this impressive plate that looks and tastes professionally prepared.

Creamy Asparagus Pasta That’s Light Yet Satisfying

• Savor Seasonal Freshness: This recipe celebrates asparagus at its peak, bringing vibrant green spears and delicate flavors straight from the garden to your plate.
• Create Creamy Comfort: The luxurious half-and-half sauce with melted Pecorino cheese delivers a rich, velvety texture that hugs each strand of perfectly cooked linguine.
• Master Quick Gourmet Cooking: In just 20 minutes, home cooks can transform simple ingredients into an elegant restaurant-quality meal that looks impressive but requires minimal culinary skills.
• Enjoy Balanced Protein Perfection: Succulent shrimp adds a light protein element that complements the tender asparagus, creating a harmonious and satisfying meal with beautiful color and flavor contrasts.

What You’ll Need for Creamy Asparagus Pasta

Main Ingredients:

• Linguine: Classic Italian pasta that provides a perfect base for the creamy sauce.
• Shrimp: Sweet and tender seafood protein that adds delicate flavor and texture to the dish.

• Asparagus: Fresh, seasonal vegetable with a tender-crisp texture and bright green color.

• Half and Half: Creamy dairy product that creates a rich and smooth sauce base.
• Pecorino Cheese: Sharp, salty Italian cheese that adds depth and complexity to the sauce.

• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that provides a pungent and savory undertone.
• Chives: Delicate herb with a mild onion flavor that adds freshness and color.

• Butter: Rich dairy fat that adds flavor and helps create a smooth, silky sauce.
• Sea Salt: Pure salt that enhances the natural flavors of ingredients.

• Black Pepper: Warm, spicy seasoning that adds a subtle heat and complexity.
• Chive Blossoms: Edible flower petals that provide a decorative and delicate garnish.

Pasta Prep: Instructions for Creamy Results

Step 1: Prepare Asparagus

Wash asparagus in cold water to remove sand. Trim the tough, pale ends. Slice asparagus lengthwise into thin strips using a sharp knife.

Step 2: Cook Pasta

Boil a large pot of water. Add salt generously. Cook linguine until perfectly tender. Save some pasta water for later.

Step 3: Sauté Asparagus

Heat a skillet over medium-high. Add butter and asparagus. Sprinkle with sea salt. Cook until bright green and slightly soft, about 3-4 minutes. Set aside on a plate. Repeat with remaining asparagus.

Step 4: Cook Shrimp

In the same skillet, melt butter. Add shrimp and season with salt. Cook until pink and edges turn golden, roughly 2 minutes per side. Remove and set aside. Cook the second batch similarly.

Step 5: Create Creamy Sauce

Reduce heat to low. Add remaining butter to the pan. Sauté garlic and chives for one minute. Pour in half and half. Sprinkle Pecorino cheese and stir until melted. Gently fold in cooked asparagus and shrimp.

Step 6: Plate and Serve

• Chive blossom petals
• Freshly ground black pepper

Serve immediately while hot and fresh.

Expert Tips for Silky Asparagus Pasta

• Prep Asparagus Carefully: Wash thoroughly in cold water to remove sand, and trim woody ends at the base for tender, flavorful results.
• Cook Shrimp Perfectly: Avoid overcooking by watching for golden edges and pink color, which indicates optimal doneness and prevents rubbery texture.
• Control Pasta Water: Save some starchy cooking liquid to adjust sauce consistency, helping create a silky, smooth cream sauce that clings to noodles.
• Layer Flavors Gradually: Sauté ingredients separately to develop individual flavor profiles before combining, ensuring each component tastes rich and developed.
• Serve Immediately: Plate pasta right after mixing to maintain optimal temperature and prevent sauce from separating or becoming too thick.

Reheating Creamy Pasta Without Losing Texture

• Refrigeration: Transfer pasta to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Keep sauce and seafood separate from pasta to prevent soggy texture.
• Reheating on Stovetop: Warm pasta in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of reserved pasta water or cream to restore moisture and prevent drying. Stir gently to distribute heat evenly.
• Microwave Option: Reheat in short 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to ensure even warming. Add a tablespoon of water or cream to maintain sauce consistency and prevent pasta from becoming tough.

What Tastes Great with Asparagus Pasta

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio perfectly complement the creamy asparagus and shrimp, cutting through the richness with their bright, zesty notes.
• Serve with Crusty Garlic Bread: Toasted baguette slices with garlic butter provide a crunchy texture contrast to the silky pasta, helping to soak up the delicious cream sauce.
• Match with Fresh Arugula Salad: A light, peppery salad dressed with lemon vinaigrette balances the dish's richness, adding a refreshing and palate-cleansing element to the meal.
• Enhance with Chilled Prosecco: Sparkling wine's effervescence and light sweetness beautifully offset the creamy sauce and bring out the delicate flavors of shrimp and asparagus.

New Ideas to Switch Up Asparagus Pasta

• Veggie Fusion: Replace shrimp with roasted bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms for a hearty vegetarian version that maintains the creamy texture and rich flavor profile.
• Lemon Herb Infusion: Add fresh lemon zest and chopped basil to brighten the sauce, creating a lighter, more refreshing pasta experience that complements the asparagus perfectly.
• Protein Power: Swap shrimp for grilled chicken or seared salmon, providing a different protein option while keeping the core creamy sauce and asparagus elements intact.
• Spicy Mediterranean: Incorporate red pepper flakes, crumbled feta cheese, and kalamata olives to transform the dish with bold, tangy Mediterranean-inspired flavors that add complexity to the original recipe.

Creamy Asparagus Pasta Recipe

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4.7 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Creamy asparagus pasta delivers Italian comfort with silky elegance. Parmesan, garlic, and fresh herbs combine in a simple yet luxurious sauce you’ll savor to the last delicious bite.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 pound (454 grams) shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 pound (454 grams) asparagus
• ½ pound (227 grams) linguine

Dairy and Seasoning:

• 4 tablespoons (57 grams) unsalted butter
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) half and half
• ½ cup (50 grams) grated Pecorino cheese
• 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) minced garlic (2 to 3 cloves)

Herbs and Garnish:

• 2 tablespoons (6 grams) minced chives
• 4 chive blossoms
• Coarse sea salt
• Freshly ground pepper

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Instructions

1. Cleanse asparagus by immersing in cold water to remove any grit, then trim the tough, pale lower sections using a sharp knife. Slice the stalks lengthwise into delicate, uniform strips.
2. Heat a large pot of water to a vigorous boil, generously season with salt, and cook linguine until perfectly tender. Set aside a portion of the starchy cooking liquid for later use.
3. In a spacious skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter and gently sauté the asparagus in two batches. Cook until the spears become slightly pliable and maintain a vibrant emerald hue, approximately 3-4 minutes per batch. Transfer each batch to a separate plate.
4. Using the same skillet, introduce another pat of butter and cook the shrimp in two separate portions. Season with sea salt and sear until the shrimp turn a rosy pink and develop golden edges, roughly 2 minutes per side. Remove and reserve.
5. Reduce the heat to low, incorporate the remaining butter, and quickly sauté garlic and chives for one minute. Gradually pour in half and half, whisking continuously.
6. Sprinkle Pecorino into the cream sauce, stirring until fully incorporated and smooth. Gently fold in the previously cooked asparagus and shrimp.
7. Elegantly twirl the linguine into serving bowls, drizzle with the luxurious cream sauce. Adjust consistency using reserved pasta water if needed.
8. Garnish with delicate chive blossom petals and a generous crack of black pepper. Serve immediately while piping hot.

Notes

• Soak asparagus in cold water to remove sand and ensure clean, grit-free vegetables before cooking.
• Trim woody asparagus ends and slice thinly for even cooking and delicate texture in the pasta dish.
• Reserve pasta water as a secret weapon to adjust sauce consistency and enhance overall flavor.
• Cook asparagus and shrimp in batches to maintain high heat and achieve perfect golden-green color and tender texture.
• Create a silky sauce by slowly melting butter, sautéing garlic and chives, then gently incorporating half and half and Pecorino cheese.
• Serve immediately to enjoy the vibrant colors, creamy sauce, and optimal temperature of this elegant seafood pasta.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 550
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 60 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg