Creamy Lemon Pepper Pasta With Shrimp & Parmesan

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We chose to make this lemon pepper pasta with shrimp with pre-packaged seasoning.

However, feel free to use a homemade seasoning, if prefered. The benefit of choosing a homemade seasoning is you can also adjust the ingredients to your families liking.  For example, if you prefer more fresh cracked pepper you can adjust where needed.  Similarly, if you prefer more lemon flavor, feel free to add dried lemon zest or lemon juice.  

Regardless, this easy pasta recipe is almost guaranteed to turn out great!  I also find that the creamy lemon pepper sauce, freshly grated Parmesan cheese and cream cheese really pull this dinner recipe together.  If you prefer this pasta dish with less cream, feel free to decrease the heavy whipping cream or cream cheese.  

WHAT TYPE OF PASTA SHOULD I USE?

What is great about this creamy lemon pepper pasta is you can use any pasta of your choosing.  However, with a creamy pasta such as this, we love to use pasta shells that hold on to the cream sauce well.  Pasta shells such as penne pasta, fettuccini, rigatoni, angel hair and more are our favorites. 

When cooking pasta in your pressure cooker, be sure to follow the tip before for cooking time.

TIPS FOR COOKING PASTA IN YOUR INSTANT POT (if preferred)

If you choose to cook this recipe in your pressure cooker like an Instant Pot, be sure to note this tip. 

When cooking Instant Pot recipes with pasta feel free to choose any pasta shell you might prefer.  Regardless of which pasta you choose, be sure to follow the cooking times indicated on the box of your pasta choice.  Whatever the box says – cut it in half and subtract 2 minutes.

For example, if the box says to cook for 10 minutes, you will cut that in half (5) and subtract 2.  All together you would cook for 3 minutes.  

If for any reason you don’t feel as though your pasta is cooked enough, you can always place the lid back on your Instant Pot and pressure cook again for 0 minutes.  That should do the trick!

ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO MAKE CREAMY LEMON PEPPER PASTA

What we love most about this lemon pepper pasta recipe is the number of ways to you make this easy dinner dish.  While we included fresh chopped onions, minced garlic or garlic clove, lemon pepper seasoning, and delicious jumbo shrimp, there are so many alternative ingredients to add.  Here are just a few of our family loved favorites: 

• Red bell peppers 
• Green bell peppers
• Andouille sausage 
• Grilled chicken breasts
• Mushrooms 
• Broccoli 
• Green onions 
• Fresh lemons, slided

INGREDIENTS FOR LEMON PEPPER PASTA:

• 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined 
• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic or 2 galric cloves
• 1/2 yellow onion, chopped 
• 3 cups chicken broth 
• 1 pound Mezzi Rigatoni
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning 
• 1 teaspoon garlic pepper
• 3 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning 
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice 
• 1 1/2 cups parmesan cheese 
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream 
• 4 ounces cream cheese 
• Pinch of salt to taste 
• Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
• Garnish with fresh lemon slices (optional)

HOW TO MAKE CREAMY LEMON PEPPER PASTA WITH SHRIMP

INSTANT POT

1. Turn on your Instant Pot and select the Saute mode on high. 
2. Add olive oil and onions.  Saute until onions are soft, about 3 minutes.  
3. Add garlic. Continue to saute for an additional 2 minutes. 
4. Toss shrimp in lemon pepper seasoning until coated evenly.  Place shrimp into Instant Pot and saute for 2-3 minutes on each side until shrimp are slightly pink in color.  
5. Once shrimp are slightly pink in color, remove from Instant Pot with tongs and place aside in a large bowl.  
6. Add heavy cream, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, Italian seasoning and garlic pepper and stir so all ingredients in the Pot are mixed together well.  Saute until thickened, about 10 minutes. NOTE: do not clean out the pot.  You will want all the lemon pepper goodness to cook into the sauce. 
7. Once the sauce has reached your desired thickness, add to large bowl with shrimp and set aside.  
8. Select the ‘cancel’ function to reset the Instant Pot cooking function.  Select ‘Pressure Cook’ on high.  
9. Add pasta shells and chicken broth.  Stir until mixed well.  Pressure cook on high for 3 minutes.  NOTE: we like our pasta very slighly al dente.  If you like yours more soft, you may want to cook for 4 minutes.  
10. Once the timer beeps, quick release all pressure.  Carefully remove the lid.  
11. Add shrimp and sauce to the pasta and mix until all ingredients are well combined.  
12. Add any additional lemon pepper seasoning or salt or pepper to taste.  
13. Top with additional Parmesan cheese.  Serve hot and enjoy!

STOVE TOP

1. In a large pan over medium heat, add olive oil onions.  Saute until onions are soft, about 3 minutes.  
2. Add garlic. Continue to saute for an additional 2 minutes. 
3. Toss shrimp in lemon pepper seasoning until coated evenly.  Place shrimp into your pan and saute for 2-3 minutes on each side until shrimp are slightly pink in color.  
4. Once shrimp are slightly pink in color, remove from the pan with tongs and place aside in a large bowl.  
5. Add heavy cream, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, garlic pepper and stir so all ingredients are mixed together well.  Saute until thickened, about 10 minutes. NOTE: do not clean out the pan.  You will want all the lemon pepper goodness to cook into the sauce. 
6. Once the sauce has reached your desired thickness, add to large bowl with shrimp and set aside.  
7. In a medium pot over medium heat, bring water with a pinch of salt to boil.  
8. Add pasta shells and cook for 4-5 minutes or until pasta has reached your desired pasta softness
9. Mix pasta shells, shrimp and sauce together until well combined.  Add any additional lemon pepper seasoning or salt or pepper to taste.  
10. Top with additional Parmesan cheese.  Serve hot and enjoy!

LOOKING FOR OTHER EASY AND DELICIOUS WEEKNIGHT DINNERS?  HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF OUR FAVORITES:

• 30+ Best Instant Pot Recipes Perfect For Every Season
• Instant Pot Creamy Cajun Pasta With Shrimp
• Creamy Chicken Stroganoff in Your Instant Pot
• Italian Sausage Stuffed Baked Tomatoes
• Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup

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Creamy Lemon Pepper Pasta With Shrimp & Parmesan

5 from 2 votes

Creamy Lemon Pepper Pasta is a tasty one-pot dinner recipe everyone in your family will love.  Loaded with rich lemon pepper seasoning, fresh shrimp, creamy sauce topped with Parmesan cheese – I can almost guarantee they’ll come running for seconds or thirds! 

SERVES/MAKES: 6 people

Prep Time 8 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 18 minutes minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined 
• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic or 2 galric cloves
• 1/2 yellow onion, chopped 
• 3 cups chicken broth (Instant Pot)
• 1 pound Mezzi Rigatoni
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning 
• 1 teaspoon garlic pepper (you can also use fresh cracked pepper, if needed)
• 3 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning 
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice 
• 1 1/2 cups parmesan cheese 
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream 
• 4 ounces cream cheese 
• Pinch of salt to taste 
• Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
• Garnish with fresh lemon slices (optional)

Instructions:

INSTANT POT

• Turn on your Instant Pot and select the Saute mode on high.
• Add olive oil and onions.  Saute until onions are soft, about 3 minutes. 
• Add garlic. Continue to saute for an additional 2 minutes. 
• Toss shrimp in lemon pepper seasoning until coated evenly.  Place shrimp into Instant Pot and saute for 2-3 minutes on each side until shrimp are slightly pink in color.  
• Once shrimp are slightly pink in color, remove from Instant Pot with tongs and place aside in a large bowl. 
• Add heavy cream, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, Italian seasoning and garlic pepper and stir so all ingredients in the Pot are mixed together well.  Saute until thickened, about 10 minutes. NOTE: do not clean out the pot.  You will want all the lemon pepper goodness to cook into the sauce. 
• Once the sauce has reached your desired thickness, add to large bowl with shrimp and set aside.  
• Select the ‘cancel’ function to reset the Instant Pot cooking function.  Select ‘Pressure Cook’ on high. 
• Add pasta shells and chicken broth.  Stir until mixed well.  Pressure cook on high for 3 minutes.  NOTE: we like our pasta very slighly al dente.  If you like yours more soft, you may want to cook for 4 minutes.  
• Once the timer beeps, quick release all pressure.  Carefully remove the lid.  
• Add shrimp and sauce to the pasta and mix until all ingredients are well combined.  
• Add any additional lemon pepper seasoning or salt or pepper to taste.  
• Top with additional Parmesan cheese.  Serve hot and enjoy!

STOVE TOP

• In a large pan over medium heat, add olive oil onions.  Saute until onions are soft, about 3 minutes.
• Add garlic. Continue to saute for an additional 2 minutes.
• Toss shrimp in lemon pepper seasoning until coated evenly.  Place shrimp into your pan and saute for 2-3 minutes on each side until shrimp are slightly pink in color.  
• Once shrimp are slightly pink in color, remove from the pan with tongs and place aside in a large bowl.
• Add heavy cream, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, garlic pepper and stir so all ingredients are mixed together well.  Saute until thickened, about 10 minutes. NOTE: do not clean out the pan.  You will want all the lemon pepper goodness to cook into the sauce. 
• Once the sauce has reached your desired thickness, add to large bowl with shrimp and set aside.  
• In a medium pot over medium heat, bring water with a pinch of salt to boil. 
• Add pasta shells and cook for 4-5 minutes or until pasta has reached your desired pasta softness.
• Mix pasta shells, shrimp and sauce together until well combined.  Add any additional lemon pepper seasoning or salt or pepper to taste.  
• Top with additional Parmesan cheese.  Serve hot and enjoy!

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