Easy & Authentic Shrimp Fra Diavolo Recipe: Ready in 30 Minutes!

Shrimp Fra Diavolo, meaning “Brother Devil” in Italian, is a pasta dish known for its spicy tomato sauce and succulent shrimp. This recipe delivers all the flavor of a classic Fra Diavolo without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner, a date night, or any time you crave a fiery, flavorful seafood dish.

This recipe uses easily accessible ingredients and simple techniques to create a restaurant-quality meal in just about 30 minutes. We’ll walk you through each step, from preparing the shrimp to perfecting the sauce, ensuring you achieve the perfect balance of spice, sweetness, and seafood goodness. Get ready to impress your family and friends (or just yourself!) with this incredibly delicious and surprisingly easy Shrimp Fra Diavolo recipe.

What Makes This Recipe So Good?

• Quick and Easy: From start to finish, this recipe takes only 30 minutes.
• Bold Flavors: The combination of garlic, chili flakes, tomatoes, and seafood creates a complex and satisfying flavor profile.
• Customizable Spice Level: Adjust the amount of chili flakes to suit your personal preference.
• Versatile: Serve over your favorite pasta, rice, or even polenta.
• Impressive: This dish looks and tastes like it came from a fancy restaurant, but it’s surprisingly simple to make.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients you’ll need to make this delicious Shrimp Fra Diavolo:

• Shrimp: 1 pound of large shrimp, peeled and deveined. Fresh or frozen (thawed) shrimp will work. Make sure to pat the shrimp dry before cooking to ensure a good sear. Size 21/25 or 26/30 are recommended, but any size will work, adjusting cooking time accordingly.
• Pasta: 1 pound of spaghetti, linguine, or your favorite pasta shape. We recommend using a long pasta shape to best capture the sauce.
• Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil for sautéing.
• Garlic: 6-8 cloves of garlic, minced. Garlic is essential for the characteristic Fra Diavolo flavor.
• Red Pepper Flakes: 1-2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes, or more to taste. This is what gives the dish its heat. Start with a smaller amount and add more if you like it spicier.
• Dry White Wine: 1/2 cup of dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. This adds acidity and depth of flavor to the sauce. Chicken broth can be substituted if you don’t have white wine on hand.
• Canned Crushed Tomatoes: 28 ounces of canned crushed tomatoes. Use good-quality crushed tomatoes for the best flavor.
• Tomato Paste: 2 tablespoons of tomato paste. This adds richness and intensifies the tomato flavor.
• Fresh Basil: 1/4 cup of fresh basil leaves, chopped. Fresh basil adds a bright, herbaceous note to the dish.
• Fresh Parsley: 1/4 cup of fresh parsley, chopped. Another touch of freshness.
• Salt and Black Pepper: To taste.
• Optional: A pinch of sugar to balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
• Optional: A tablespoon of butter to add richness to the sauce.
• Optional: Fresh lemon wedges for serving. A squeeze of lemon juice brightens the flavors.

Equipment You’ll Need

• Large pot for cooking pasta
• Large skillet or Dutch oven
• Colander
• Cutting board
• Knife
• Measuring cups and spoons

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these detailed instructions to create the perfect Shrimp Fra Diavolo:

1. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
2. Prepare the Shrimp: While the pasta is cooking, pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Season with salt and black pepper.
3. Sauté the Garlic and Chili Flakes: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for about 1 minute, or until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Burnt garlic will make the sauce bitter.
4. Deglaze with White Wine: Pour in the white wine and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let the wine reduce by half, about 2-3 minutes. This step helps to develop a deeper, richer flavor in the sauce.
5. Add Tomatoes and Tomato Paste: Stir in the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the flavors to meld together.
6. Cook the Shrimp: Gently stir the shrimp into the sauce. Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and opaque and cooked through. Be careful not to overcook the shrimp, as they will become rubbery. The cooking time will depend on the size of the shrimp.
7. Finish the Sauce: Stir in the fresh basil and parsley. Add a pinch of sugar and a tablespoon of butter, if desired. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
8. Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat, adding a little of the reserved pasta water if needed to create a creamy sauce. The pasta water contains starch which helps to emulsify the sauce and make it cling to the pasta.
9. Serve: Serve immediately, garnished with extra fresh basil and parsley, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, if desired.

Tips for the Best Shrimp Fra Diavolo

• Use High-Quality Ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will directly impact the flavor of the dish. Use good-quality crushed tomatoes, fresh herbs, and fresh or high-quality frozen shrimp.
• Don’t Overcook the Shrimp: Overcooked shrimp is rubbery and unpleasant. Cook the shrimp just until they are pink and opaque.
• Adjust the Spice Level: The amount of red pepper flakes is up to you. Start with a smaller amount and add more if you like it spicier. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper for extra heat.
• Reserve Pasta Water: The starchy pasta water is a key ingredient in creating a creamy sauce. Don’t skip this step!
• Don’t Burn the Garlic: Burnt garlic will make the sauce bitter. Cook the garlic over medium heat and watch it carefully.
• Deglaze the Pan Properly: Deglazing the pan with white wine is essential for developing a deeper flavor. Make sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Simmer the Sauce: Simmering the sauce allows the flavors to meld together and develop a richer flavor.
• Taste and Adjust: Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings as needed. You may need to add more salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes.
• Serve Immediately: Shrimp Fra Diavolo is best served immediately. The pasta will continue to absorb the sauce as it sits.

Variations and Substitutions

• Seafood: You can substitute the shrimp with other seafood, such as scallops, mussels, or clams. Or use a combination!
• Pasta: Use any type of pasta you like. Penne, rigatoni, or even ziti would work well.
• Vegetables: Add vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms to the sauce.
• Wine: If you don’t have white wine, you can use chicken broth or vegetable broth.
• Spice Level: Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to suit your taste. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper for extra heat. For a milder dish, use a pinch of red pepper flakes or omit them altogether.
• Creamy Fra Diavolo: For a creamier sauce, stir in a splash of heavy cream or half-and-half at the end.
• Vodka Sauce Variation: Add a splash of vodka along with the white wine for a Fra Diavolo Vodka variation.

Serving Suggestions

Shrimp Fra Diavolo is a complete meal on its own, but here are some serving suggestions to enhance your dining experience:

• Bread: Serve with crusty bread for soaking up the delicious sauce.
• Salad: A simple green salad with a vinaigrette dressing is a perfect complement to the spicy pasta.
• Garlic Bread: Garlic bread is always a welcome addition to any pasta dish.
• Vegetables: Serve with a side of roasted vegetables, such as broccoli, asparagus, or Brussels sprouts.
• Wine Pairing: A crisp white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, pairs well with Shrimp Fra Diavolo.

Make-Ahead Instructions

While Shrimp Fra Diavolo is best served fresh, you can prepare some of the components ahead of time to save time on a busy weeknight:

• Sauce: The sauce can be made up to 2 days in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat before adding the shrimp and pasta.
• Shrimp: The shrimp can be peeled and deveined ahead of time. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Vegetables: Chop the garlic, basil, and parsley ahead of time. Store them in separate containers in the refrigerator.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

• Storage: Store leftover Shrimp Fra Diavolo in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
• Reheating: Reheat the pasta in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water or broth if needed to prevent it from drying out. You can also reheat it in the microwave.

Why This Recipe Works

This recipe is designed to be quick, easy, and flavorful. Here’s why it works so well:

• Simple Ingredients: The recipe uses readily available ingredients that you can easily find at your local grocery store.
• Fast Cooking Time: The entire dish is ready in just 30 minutes, making it perfect for a weeknight meal.
• Balanced Flavors: The combination of garlic, chili flakes, tomatoes, and seafood creates a complex and satisfying flavor profile.
• Customizable Spice Level: You can easily adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to suit your personal preference.
• Detailed Instructions: The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow, even for beginner cooks.

Shrimp Fra Diavolo Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 pound spaghetti or linguine
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 6-8 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-2 teaspoons red pepper flakes, or more to taste
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Pinch of sugar (optional)
• 1 tablespoon butter (optional)
• Fresh lemon wedges, for serving (optional)

Instructions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
2. While the pasta is cooking, pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Season with salt and black pepper.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for about 1 minute, or until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
4. Pour in the white wine and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let the wine reduce by half, about 2-3 minutes.
5. Stir in the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Gently stir the shrimp into the sauce. Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and opaque. Be careful not to overcook the shrimp.
7. Stir in the fresh basil and parsley. Add a pinch of sugar and a tablespoon of butter, if desired. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
8. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat, adding a little of the reserved pasta water if needed to create a creamy sauce.
9. Serve immediately, garnished with extra fresh basil and parsley, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, if desired.

Enjoy Your Delicious Shrimp Fra Diavolo!

This easy Shrimp Fra Diavolo recipe is sure to become a new favorite. With its bold flavors and simple preparation, it’s the perfect dish for any occasion. Enjoy!

More Delicious Seafood Recipes to Try

• Lemon Garlic Shrimp Scampi
• Blackened Salmon with Mango Salsa
• Creamy Tuscan Salmon
• Baked Cod with Lemon and Herbs

Nutritional Information (estimated per serving)

(Note: Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on specific ingredients and portion sizes.)

• Calories: Approximately 500-600
• Protein: 30-40g
• Fat: 20-30g
• Carbohydrates: 50-60g