Creamy Tuscan Shrimp Pasta

Name: Creamy Tuscan Shrimp Pasta (Air Fryer)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 1 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/4 lb raw shrimp, peeled and deveined; 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved; 1 cup fresh spinach; 4 oz whipped garlic and herb cream cheese; 1 tbsp Tuscan seasoning blend; 1 tsp garlic pepper seasoning; 1 tbsp lemon-infused extra virgin olive oil; 4 oz rotini pasta; 1/4 cup reserved pasta water

This creamy Tuscan shrimp pasta cooks entirely in the air fryer with a silky garlic herb cream cheese sauce, making it a complete weeknight dinner in under 20 minutes with minimal cleanup.

🌍American 🏷️Shrimp pasta 🏷️Creamy pasta 🏷️Quick dinner 🏷️Weeknight meal Tuscan shrimp

🏷️

🏷️Garlic herb pasta

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Total

15 min

Servings

1

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$19–$31

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

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Ingredients

1/4 lb raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup fresh spinach
4 oz whipped garlic and herb cream cheese
1 tbsp Tuscan seasoning blend
1 tsp garlic pepper seasoning
1 tbsp lemon-infused extra virgin olive oil
4 oz rotini pasta
1/4 cup reserved pasta water

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Instructions

1
In an air fryer-safe dish lined with parchment paper, add the shrimp, halved cherry tomatoes, and fresh spinach.
2
Add a few large spoonfuls of the whipped garlic and herb cream cheese to the dish.
3
Season everything generously with Tuscan seasoning blend.
4
Sprinkle with garlic pepper seasoning.
5
Drizzle the lemon-infused olive oil over all the ingredients.
6
Place the dish in the air fryer and cook for about 7 minutes.
7
While the shrimp mixture is cooking, boil the pasta according to package directions. Before draining, reserve about 1/4 cup of the starchy pasta water.
8
Once cooked, carefully remove the dish from the air fryer. Add the drained pasta and the reserved pasta water.
9
Stir everything together until the cream cheese melts into the pasta water, creating a creamy sauce that coats all the ingredients.
10
Serve immediately and enjoy.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Use whipped cream cheese so it blends smoothly into the sauce without lumps; whipped texture distributes faster as the air fryer heats.
Reserve pasta water before draining — the starch helps emulsify and thicken the cream cheese sauce naturally.
Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket; shake or stir halfway through cooking to ensure even heat and prevent pasta from clumping.
Add fresh spinach in the last 2 minutes so it wilts into the sauce without turning dark or losing color.

Substitutions

rotini → penne or linguine (adjust cooking time by 1–2 minutes)
fresh spinach → frozen spinach, thawed and drained (reduces moisture in the basket)
cherry tomatoes → sun-dried tomatoes (use 1/4 cup; rehydrate first for softer texture)
garlic pepper seasoning → garlic powder + cracked black pepper to taste

Storage & make-ahead

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 2 days; reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of pasta water to restore sauce consistency.

Equipment

air fryer · air fryer-safe cooking vessel or basket insert

Common Questions

Can I cook the pasta in the air fryer with the shrimp?

Yes. Cook the rotini in the air fryer basket with the shrimp and other ingredients, using reserved pasta water to create a creamy sauce as the pasta finishes cooking.