Quick & Creamy Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta Recipe That Wows

Bang bang shrimp pasta brings a zesty explosion of flavors that dance across your palate with vibrant intensity.

Seafood enthusiasts and comfort food lovers unite around this delectable dish that combines crispy, succulent shellfish with creamy, tangy sauce.

Bold spices and quick cooking techniques revolutionize simple ingredients into a restaurant-worthy meal you can craft at home.

The magic lies in perfectly coated shrimp and a decadent sauce that balances heat and richness.

Every forkful promises a delightful mix of textures that tantalize taste buds and spark culinary excitement.

Weeknight dinner dilemmas vanish when this crowd-pleasing recipe enters your kitchen repertoire.

Home cooks of all skill levels can master this impressive yet approachable meal with confidence.

Big Flavor in Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta

• Speedy Seafood Satisfaction: This recipe transforms ordinary shrimp into a restaurant-worthy dish in just 25 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners or spontaneous meal cravings.
• Flavor-Packed Punch: The combination of chili-garlic sauce, honey, and lime creates a tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce that coats the pasta and shrimp with an explosion of bold, exciting flavors.
• Texture Triumph: Crispy roasted shrimp meets creamy yogurt sauce and crunchy breadcrumbs, delivering a delightful contrast of textures that keeps every bite interesting and satisfying.
• One-Pan Wonder: By roasting shrimp on a single baking sheet and using minimal dishes, this recipe offers a hassle-free cooking experience that minimizes cleanup and maximizes enjoyment.

What Goes into Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta

• Linguine or Spaghetti: Classic pasta choice that holds sauce well, choose bronze-cut pasta for better texture.
• Shrimp: Fresh or frozen medium-sized shrimp work best, peeled and deveined for easy eating.

• Greek Yogurt: Creamy base for sauce, provides tangy and light coating.
• Chili-Garlic Sauce: Adds spicy kick and depth of flavor, adjust amount for heat preference.
• Honey: Balances spice with subtle sweetness, use local honey for best flavor.
• Lime Juice: Brightens dish with citrus notes, fresh lime recommended.
• Garlic Powder: Provides consistent garlic flavor, high-quality powder preferred.

• Scallions: Fresh green onions for color and mild onion flavor, thinly sliced.
• Breadcrumbs: Crispy topping for texture contrast, panko breadcrumbs recommended.

• Salt: Enhances overall seasoning, kosher salt preferred.
• Black Pepper: Adds mild heat and depth, freshly ground recommended.
• Cayenne Pepper: Optional spice booster, adjust to personal heat tolerance.
• Cooking Spray: Prevents sticking on baking sheet, vegetable or olive oil spray works.

How to Prepare Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta

Step 1: Prepare Oven and Baking Sheet

Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat to 400°F. Lightly spray rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.

Step 2: Create Creamy Sauce

• Yogurt
• Chili-garlic sauce
• Honey
• Garlic powder
• Half of lime juice

Set sauce aside.

Step 3: Cook Pasta

Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, following package instructions (about 10 minutes).

Step 4: Season Shrimp

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Cayenne

Toss to coat evenly and spread in single layer.

Step 5: Roast Shrimp

Roast shrimp in oven for 6-8 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until shrimp turn opaque and pink. Drizzle remaining lime juice over shrimp and toss, scraping up any flavorful bits.

Step 6: Combine Pasta and Shrimp

Drain pasta and return to pot. Pour in yogurt sauce and toss to coat. Add roasted shrimp, pan juices, and half of scallions. Gently mix.

Step 7: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle each serving with crispy breadcrumbs and remaining scallions. Serve immediately while hot.

Cooking Tips for Shrimp Pasta Perfection

• Pat Shrimp Dry: Remove excess moisture with paper towels to ensure crispy, golden-brown edges during roasting.
• Check Shrimp Doneness: Watch carefully to prevent overcooking; shrimp turn opaque and curl when perfectly cooked.
• Boost Flavor Intensity: Add extra chili-garlic sauce for a spicier kick or more honey for subtle sweetness.
• Toast Breadcrumbs Separately: Quickly pan-toast breadcrumbs in butter for extra crunch and richer flavor profile.
• Balance Sauce Consistency: Adjust yogurt sauce thickness by adding a splash of pasta water if too thick or more yogurt if too thin.

Storage for Leftover Shrimp Pasta

• Refrigerate: Store leftover Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for up to 2 days to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
• Reheat: Gently warm the pasta in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or extra yogurt sauce to prevent dryness. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating and restore creamy texture.
• Best Consumed: Enjoy leftovers within 48 hours for optimal taste and texture. Discard if pasta appears discolored or develops an off smell, as seafood can spoil quickly.

Pairing Suggestions for Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta

• Spice Up with Crisp White Wine: Select a chilled Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio to complement the tangy, spicy flavors of the bang bang shrimp pasta, cutting through the creamy sauce with its bright acidity.
• Cool Down with Zesty Slaw: Prepare a quick cabbage and carrot slaw with a light vinaigrette to balance the richness of the pasta, adding a refreshing crunch that echoes the dish's textures.
• Elevate with Garlic Bread Crostini: Toast thin slices of baguette with garlic butter and sprinkle with fresh herbs, providing a perfect crispy accompaniment that mirrors the breadcrumbs in the pasta and helps soak up the delicious sauce.
• Finish with Citrus Sorbet: Serve a small scoop of lemon or lime sorbet as a palate cleanser, reinforcing the bright lime notes in the dish and offering a light, refreshing end to the meal.

Fun Variations for Shrimp Pasta Lovers

• Spicy Coconut Kick: Replace yogurt sauce with coconut milk, add red curry paste for extra heat, and garnish with toasted coconut flakes for a tropical flavor profile.
• Mediterranean Herb Fusion: Swap chili-garlic sauce with pesto, use feta cheese instead of breadcrumbs, and add sun-dried tomatoes for a Mediterranean-inspired version.
• Creamy Cajun Style: Substitute yogurt with heavy cream, mix in Cajun seasoning, add andouille sausage alongside shrimp, and top with crispy bacon bits for a Southern-style transformation.
• Vegetarian Protein Swap: Replace shrimp with roasted cauliflower or crispy tofu, keep the spicy yogurt sauce, and use nutritional yeast instead of breadcrumbs for a plant-based alternative.

Easy Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta Recipe

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4.5 from 21 reviews

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

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Description

Spicy bang bang shrimp pasta delivers a flavor explosion that dances across taste buds. Crispy shrimp tossed in creamy, zesty sauce create a quick dinner you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Proteins:

• 1 pound uncooked peeled and deveined medium shrimp
• 12 ounces dry spaghetti

Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:

• ½ cup whole-milk plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons Asian chili-garlic sauce
• 1 teaspoon honey
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Juice of 2 medium limes (about ¼ cup)

Garnish and Preparation:

• 2 medium scallions, thinly sliced
• Cooking spray

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and prepare a rimmed baking sheet with a light coating of cooking spray.
2. Create a zesty sauce by whisking together yogurt, chili-garlic sauce, honey, garlic powder, and half of the lime juice in a small mixing bowl.
3. Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil.
4. Add pasta to the boiling water and cook until perfectly al dente, following package timing instructions.
5. Pat the shrimp completely dry and transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
6. Season the shrimp with salt, black pepper, and cayenne, ensuring each piece is evenly coated.
7. Spread the seasoned shrimp in a single layer across the baking sheet.
8. Roast the shrimp in the preheated oven, rotating once midway through cooking, until they turn opaque and pink (approximately 6-8 minutes).
9. Once roasted, drizzle the remaining lime juice over the shrimp and gently toss to capture all the flavorful caramelized bits from the baking sheet.
10. Drain the cooked pasta and return it to the original pot.
11. Pour the prepared yogurt sauce over the pasta, stirring thoroughly to ensure complete coverage.
12. Gently fold in the roasted shrimp, including any accumulated juices from the baking sheet.
13. Incorporate half of the chopped scallions into the pasta mixture.
14. Plate the pasta and generously garnish with crispy breadcrumbs and remaining scallions.
15. Serve immediately while hot and fresh.

Notes

• Meal Prep Shortcut: Cook pasta and sauce ahead of time, storing separately in airtight containers for a quick 15-minute weeknight dinner.
• Spice Control: Adjust chili-garlic sauce quantity to dial heat up or down based on personal spice tolerance.
• Protein Swap: Easily replace shrimp with chicken, tofu, or white fish for versatile meal options.
• Crispy Texture Tip: Toast breadcrumbs in a dry skillet for extra golden crunch before sprinkling on pasta.
• Sauce Consistency: Yogurt-based sauce prevents heavy cream feeling while adding tangy, creamy flavor profile.
• Storage Wisdom: Consume within 2 days when refrigerated, reheating gently to prevent sauce separation.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: Fusion

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 62 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg