Description

Hey friend! Picture this: garlic sizzling in butter, juicy shrimp hitting a hot pan, and fluffy mashed potatoes ready to soak up every last drop of creamy Parmesan sauce. This dish is indulgent, restaurant-quality, and surprisingly easy to make at home. Perfect for a date night, family dinner, or a solo treat, it’s comfort food that feels fancy with zero fuss.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Mashed Potatoes:

2 lbs Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
½ cup warm milk
¼ cup butter
Salt, to taste

For the Shrimp:

1 lb large shrimp (peeled & deveined)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp paprika (sweet or smoked)
1 tsp garlic powder
Salt & black pepper, to taste

For the Creamy Garlic Parmesan Sauce:

2 tbsp butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional)
Salt & pepper, to taste
Fresh thyme or parsley, for garnish

Instructions

1. Make the Mashed Potatoes:
Place potatoes in a large pot of cold, salted water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15–20 minutes until fork-tender. Drain and return to pot to steam off excess water. Mash with warm milk and butter until creamy. Keep warm.

2. Cook the Shrimp:
Pat shrimp dry. Toss with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and cook shrimp 1–2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove and set aside.

3. Prepare the Sauce:
In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté 60 seconds. Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan, and Dijon mustard. Simmer 3–4 minutes until sauce thickens and cheese melts. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Combine:
Turn off heat, add shrimp to the sauce, and gently toss to coat.

5. Plate:
Spoon mashed potatoes onto plates, create a small well, and arrange shrimp and sauce on top. Garnish with thyme or parsley and extra Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Lemon Lover’s: Add lemon zest to shrimp and a squeeze of juice to the sauce.
Spicy Kick: Add red pepper flakes to shrimp or cayenne to sauce.
Alternate Protein: Chicken or scallops work beautifully.
Lighter Option: Serve with cauliflower mash or zucchini noodles.
Mushroom Magic: Sauté cremini mushrooms in the pan before adding sauce.