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Seafood Cacio e Pepe

Name: Seafood Cacio e Pepe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 17 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 8 oz large shrimp; 0.5 lb spaghetti or linguine; 2 tbsp butter; 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 2 tbsp freshly cracked black pepper; 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1 unit garlic; 0.5 tsp salt; 1 pinch red pepper flakes

Can't decide what to make? This elegant, peppery seafood pasta feels like a fancy night out in under 20 minutes.

Total: 17 min
Prep: 5 min
Cook: 12 min
Serves: 2
Difficulty: easy
Calories: 823
Cost: $$$/serving

When the day feels long and you need a win, this Seafood Cacio e Pepe is your secret weapon. It takes all the sophisticated elements of the classic Italian pasta—heavy cracked pepper and creamy sauce—and adds a hit of fresh seafood for an effortless upgrade. You don't need to spend hours in the kitchen; the magic happens in one pot while the pasta cooks. The heat from the peppercorns creates a silky glaze that coats every strand, making it feel like high-end comfort food. It smells incredible as it simmers, and that first bite of buttery, peppery goodness is exactly what you need after a tiring day.

Ingredients

8 oz large shrimp — peeled and deveined
0.5 lb spaghetti or linguine
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp freshly cracked black pepper — coarse grind is best
0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese — use a high-quality wedge if possible
1 unit garlic — minced
0.5 tsp salt — adjust to taste
1 pinch red pepper flakes — optional for a tiny kick

Method

1 Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
2 While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
3 Add shrimp and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until shrimp turn pink.
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4 Stir in the black pepper and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
5 Just before draining, reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water.
6 Drain the pasta and add it directly to the skillet with the shrimp. Toss well.
7 Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the remaining 1 tbsp butter and the Parmesan cheese.
8 Gradually pour in the reserved pasta water while tossing vigorously until a creamy sauce forms and coats the noodles.

Variations

Extra Seafood — Swap half the shrimp for pieces of firm white fish like cod or halibut.
Veggie Boost — Add a handful of baby spinach at the very end until wilted to increase the greens.

Notes

The key to a creamy sauce without adding heavy cream is the starch in the pasta water combined with the melting cheese and butter. Don't skip the toast of the pepper!