Bring together a creamy parmesan sauce, shrimp, breadcrumbs, and fresh chopped tomatoes and you have this wonderful Olive Garden Baked Parmesan Shrimp. It’s one of our most popular shrimp recipes because it’s light, fresh and takes less than 30 minutes to prepare.

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What Makes Olive Garden Baked Parmesan Shrimp so Good
Don’t you love a dish that looks much fancier than it is to prepare? I do. This Olive Garden Baked Parmesan Shrimp is one of those recipes.
It’s made with a heavy cream sauce, but the shrimp and tomatoes give it a fresh, light feel. The Parmesan sauce is so easy to make that you will quickly put this sauce together.
The breadcrumbs are not shown in the video below, but you can add them. They add a nice crunch to this pasta dish.
It’s served in individual casserole dishes, so it makes a lovely presentation. Best of all, you can prepare this in about 30 minutes. Did I mention it was easy?

What Size of Shrimp Should I Use
This recipe doesn’t call for a specific size of shrimp, but it’s a good idea to know what you are getting when you go shopping.
- You will notice a number on the bag or at the butcher counter when you go shopping for shrimp. The higher the number, the smaller the shrimp. The smaller the number, the larger the shrimp.
- This recipe calls for the shrimp already cooked. You can buy shrimp already cooked and then it will already be peeled and deveined.
- If you choose to buy shrimp uncooked, it’s a good idea to buy it frozen in a bag. This will give you options for other shrimp recipes, and it’s usually cheaper. Just soak the shrimp in lukewarm water until they thaw, then peel and devein the shrimp yourself. The easiest way to cook the shrimp is to saute it in olive oil or butter until it turns opaque with a pearly pink color and bright-red tails (just a few minutes). Season with salt & pepper if you choose.
When it comes to making shrimp recipes, it usually doesn’t mean hours in the kitchen. This recipe takes under 30 minutes to make, and it’s delicious.
Ingredients
- Pasta – Serves as the base and holds the creamy sauce
- Butter – Adds richness and depth to the cream sauce
- Heavy cream – Creates a smooth and velvety Parmesan sauce
- Parmesan cheese – Melts into the cream and adds savory flavor
- Shrimp – Brings sweetness and a tender bite to the dish
- Roma tomatoes – Add freshness and acidity as a garnish
- Parsley – Provides color and a bright herbal note
Optional Topping
- Parmesan cheese – Enhances flavor and creates a golden topping
- Breadcrumbs – Add crunch and texture
- Butter – Helps the breadcrumbs brown

How to Make Olive Garden Baked Parmesan Shrimp
- Cook pasta according to package instructions, then place it in a large bowl.
- In a medium-size saucepan, combine butter and heavy cream. Heat until the butter is melted completely and the mixture comes to a simmer.
- Add Parmesan cheese into the pan and stir until melted.
- Season with salt and white pepper if desired.
- Add the sauce to the pasta and mix until evenly coated. Pour pasta into small casserole dishes.
- Place several pieces of shrimp on top of the pasta.
- Optional step: Combine breadcrumbs, melted butter, and Parmesan cheese in a bowl. Sprinkle on top of pasta.
- Bake at 350 degrees until the shrimp is cooked and all is heated through.
- Garnish with chopped tomatoes and parsley if desired.
Recipe Notes
- This dish is served with shrimp, but if you don’t like shrimp, you could easily use chicken, sausage, or perhaps even some crab meat.
- Use any pasta that you have on hand. It’s also an excellent recipe for using up small bits of pasta you may have leftover from other recipes.
- If you like it a little crunchier, add breadcrumbs, melted cheese, and parmesan to a bowl and mix. Add to the top of the casserole dish before putting it in the oven.

Storage and reheating instructions
- Refrigerator Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheating Method: Warm gently in a covered dish in the oven or on the stovetop. Add a splash of cream if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Freezing: Not recommended due to the dairy based sauce, which may separate when thawed.
More Olive Garden Copycat Recipes
- Chicken Margherita
- Chicken Scampi
- Italian Margarita
- Italian Meat Sauce
- Minestrone Soup
- Peach Cheesecake
- Toasted Ravioli
- Zuppa Soup
Favorite Shrimp Recipes
Olive Garden Baked Parmesan Shrimp
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta cooked according to package directions
- 4 ounces butter
- 1 pint heavy cream
- 8 ounces Parmesan cheese
- 8 ounces shrimp cooked, peeled, and deveined
- 1 Roma tomato cut into small pieces
- 2 teaspoons parsley chopped
- 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoons Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium-size saucepan, combine butter and heavy cream. Heat until butter is melted completely and the mixture comes to a simmer.
- Add Parmesan cheese into the pot and stir until melted. Season with salt and white pepper if desired.
- Place cooked pasta in a bowl, and stir in sauce, mix to coat pasta evenly. Pour pasta into 2 or 3 small casserole dishes.
- Place several pieces of shrimp onto casserole dishes, and place in the oven.
- Optional step: Combine bread crumbs, melted butter, and Parmesan cheese in a bowl. Sprinkle bread crumbs onto casserole dishes.
- Bake until all is heated through.
- Garnish with chopped tomatoes and parsley if desired.
- If you have any leftover pieces of shrimp, simply bake them in a small buttered dish, and enjoy with your meal.
Video
Notes
- This dish is served with shrimp, but if you don’t like shrimp, you could easily use chicken, sausage, or perhaps even some crab meat.
- Use any pasta that you have on hand. It’s also a great recipe to be able to use up small bits of pasta that you may have leftover from other recipes.
- You can bake any leftover pieces of shrimp in a small buttered dish.



Delicious! I baked it all in one large casserole dish and totally covered it with 2/3 lb. large shrimp (31-40). My husband LOVED it. However, I made a few changes. I marinated the shrimp first for about 15-20 min. in Chardonnay, Old Bay, and S&P. I was concerned about already cooked shrimp overcooking in the oven, so I used RAW shrimp. They were PERFECTLY cooked after 15 minutes in the oven. It was very difficult to serve, and the crusty topping got lost during serving. Next time I will cut up the pasta first so it can be lifted out easily. I also threw a few chiffonaded fresh basil leaves in with the parsley, and used (extra) Italian seasoned bread crumbs. The appearance was sensational! The red tomatoes and green herbs really set it off. Thanks for the recipe!
Your recipes are OUTSTANDING!