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Home > Meal Type > Main Dishes > Shrimp Chorizo Pasta (10 minute dinner)

Shrimp Chorizo Pasta (10 minute dinner)

Updated: Jul 8th 2019 • Published: Mar 13th 2019 • 16 Comments

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This Shrimp and Chorizo pasta is a quick and easy mid-week meal – you can have this dish on the table in just 10 minutes.

The key to this dish is the fried chorizo sausage which, when fried gives up its deliciously spicy oil. This oil is used to cook the shrimp, garlic and coat the pasta, creating an instant simple sauce without the need for cream or tomatoes.

Serve with a side salad for a delicious pasta dinner.

black cast iron pan filled with spaghetti, shrimp and fried chorizo

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  • Watch how to Make Shrimp Chorizo Pasta (video)
  • What is Chorizo Sausage?
  • What chorizo sausage to use?
  • What size shrimps are best for shrimp pasta?
  • Which pasta to choose for Shrimp Chorizo Pasta?
  • What to have with Shrimp Chorizo Pasta
  • Shrimp Chorizo Pasta

Watch how to Make Shrimp Chorizo Pasta (video)

What is Chorizo Sausage?

Chorizo sausage is a fatty pork sausage originating from Spain. It has a wonderful rich red color and is often flavoured with garlic, chili and pimentón, which is the Spanish name for dried and smoked, red peppers.

Is Chorizo sausage raw?

It can be, there are two types of Chorizo sausage, one is raw and one is cured or semi-cured.

Mexican chorizo:
This is raw like a standard sausage, that is flavored with chili and garlic, it is made with fresh ground pork (and sometimes beef) and is sold in the fresh sausage section of the grocery store near the breakfast links.

Spanish chorizo:
This is made with cured or semi-cured chopped pork and is seasoned predominantly with smoky pimentón (dried and smoked red peppers). You can find Spanish chorizo in the cured meats section of most grocery stores.

Is Chorizo spicy?

Chorizo sausages vary is their level of spiciness. Mexican chorizo tends to be spicer than Spanish chorizo.

split picture showing a whole Spanish chorizo sausage and then one cut up.

What chorizo sausage to use?

The type of chorizo sausage you pick will depend on how it is going to be cooked. For dishes where the chorizo is crumbled then pick a Mexican chorizo, whilst dishes that say to slice the sausage you want to pick a Spanish style sausage.

HOWEVER!
This Shrimp Chorizo Pasta dish will work with either type of chorizo sausage!

As you can see from the photo above I use a spanish style sausage, I find it slices up well and keeps it shape during cooking.
BUT
If all you can find are the Mexican style sausages, this dish will still work perfectly well. Try to buy one in a casing so you can slice the sausage and the continue with the recipe as normal.

close up on the shrimp and chorizo in the fry pan full of pasta.

What size shrimps are best for shrimp pasta?

I like to use large shrimp for this shrimp chorizo pasta. They are small enough that you can eat them easily with the pasta, but meaty enough to feel substantial.
If you prefer you could buy the extra large or drop down to medium large or even medium.
When buying shrimp it is much better to buy by the count as each vendor will have a different idea of what extra large/large/medium should be. I suggest large shrimp, meaning a 31/35 count per pound, as this works out at around 8 shrimp per serving.

Size
Count Per Pound
Extra Large26/30
Large31/35
Medium Large36/40
Medium41/50
a blue plate oiled with orange shrimp chorizo pasta with a pan of pasta in the background

Which pasta to choose for Shrimp Chorizo Pasta?

Traditionally the choice of pasta is based on the sauce that accompanies it.

For light oil based sauces (like this shrimp chorizo pasta) the italians would choose a long thin pasta like spaghetti, linguine, angel hair or fusilli lunghi.

Spaghetti works perfectly for this recipe!
However this dish isn’t completely traditional (as it uses Spanish chorizo!) so if you aren’t a fan of the long pastas then feel free to pick a smaller shape, ideally you want something that isn’t tubular, like farfelle (bowtie).

table view of a black cast iron skillet, on a white table cloth, filled with orange shrimp chorizo spaghetti and garnish with parsley

What to have with Shrimp Chorizo Pasta

Side: This reich and flavor packed pasta recipe is wonderful served with a simple green salad with a citrus dressing. Alternatively some asparagus or green beans make a great side dish here. Bread is optional, but it does taste amazing when used to mop up the paprikary garlicy oil that remains when the last strand of pasta has been swirled into your mouth!

Wine: The wonderfully rich chorizo here carries so much paprika and garlic that you want to pair this with something light yet juicy. For those loving a red then a light Rioja or a  Beaujolais are the perfect choice. And for the white lovers a chilled Verdejo or Viognier would be perfect. Me, I tend to go for a chilled dry rosé and get the best of both worlds!

a close up on the paprika tinged shrimp chorizo pasta on a blue plate with a fork in the background

Enjoy x

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close up on the crispy chorizo sausage in the shrimp chorizo pasta, on a blue plate
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5 from 10 votes

Shrimp Chorizo Pasta

This Shrimp and Chorizo pasta is a quick and easy mid-week meal – you can have this dish on the table in just 10 minutes. The key to this dish is the hard chorizo sausage which, when fried gives up its deliciously flavored oil. This oil is used to cook the shrimp, garlic and coat the pasta, creating an instant simple sauce without the need for cream or tomatoes. Serve with a side salad for a delicious pasta dinner.
Prep Time2 mins
Cook Time8 mins
Total Time10 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4
Calories: 680kcal
Author: Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts
For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout
Need Metric Measurements?Use the options below to toggle between cups and grams (if relevant)

Ingredients

US Customary – Grams
  • 14 oz long pasta – see note 1
  • 2 chorizo sausages – see note 2
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 lb raw shrimp (peeled and tails removed) – see note 3
  • 2 cloves garlic (crushed/grated)
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/4-1/2 tsp red chili flakes – optional
  • Salt and pepper
  • Fresh parsley – for garnish

Instructions

  • Bring a large pan of water to a boil, then salt it generously.
  • Add the pasta and set a timer for 1 minutes less than the suggested cooking time. When draining the pasta reserving ½ cup (125ml) of the cooking liquid.
  • Whilst the pasta is cooking, cut the chorizo into thick disks.
  • Heat the oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Add the chorizo and fry for 5 minutes turning often until golden and crispy.
  • Remove the chorizo from the frying pan, keeping the oil behind.
  • Add the shrimp and cook for 2 minute, then add in the paprika (chili flakes if using) and crushed garlic and cook for another minute.
  • Add a 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking liquid and bring the sauce to a simmer.
  • Add the drained pasta and toss to coat the pasta well in the oily sauce.
  • Add more cooking liquid if needed.
  • Taste for seasoning and then serve garnished with parsley.

Notes

  1. A long pasta like spaghetti, linguine, angel hair or fusilli lunghi works perfectly for this recipe! However if you aren’t a fan of the long pastas then feel free to pick a smaller shape, ideally you want something that isn’t tubular, like farfelle (bowtie).
  2. Ideally you want to use a cured or semi-cured spanish style chorizo sausage as they slice up well and keeps it shape during cooking. But if all you can find are the Mexican style sausages, this dish will still work perfectly well. Try to buy one in a casing so you can slice the sausage and the continue with the recipe as normal.
  3. I like to use large shrimp for this dish, they are small enough that you can eat them easily with the pasta, but meaty enough to feel substantial.
    If you prefer you could buy the extra large or drop down to medium large or even medium. When buying shrimp it is much better to buy by the count as each vendor will have a different idea of what extra large/large/medium should be. I suggest large shrimp, meaning a 31/35 count per pound, as this works out at around 8 shrimp per serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 680kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 318mg | Sodium: 1581mg | Potassium: 311mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 415IU | Vitamin C: 13.6mg | Calcium: 197mg | Iron: 4.4mg
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Filed Under: All Recipes, Main Dishes, Pasta Recipes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nancy Jorgensen says

    Nov 30th 2020 at 7:35 am

    5 stars
    We loved it! Used small Portuguese sausage with quality paprika.
    It was excellent! Could add small pieces of chicken next time.

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Feb 3rd 2021 at 3:03 pm

      I think chicken (instead of or as well as the shrimp) would be a great addition.
      Your sausages sound perfect!!
      So happy you enjoyed it 😄
      Cx

      Reply
  2. Monique says

    Jul 8th 2020 at 5:38 pm

    Five star!

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Sep 21st 2020 at 12:20 pm

      Thank you so Much Monique 🙂
      Cx

      Reply
  3. Del Martinis says

    Apr 30th 2020 at 1:25 am

    5 stars
    BEST dang pasta dish! Just ended up in our top 10! Made it with Mexican chorizo, which is what we had and it flavored the entire dish.

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Apr 30th 2020 at 5:22 am

      Oh this makes me smile 🙂
      It is one of my favorite pasta dishes too!!!!
      Thank you
      Cx

      Reply
  4. Nancy Meyers says

    Apr 27th 2020 at 2:49 am

    5 stars
    Made this last night and it was amazing! I added some chopped onion to the fresh garlic. My husband said it’s his new favorite dish.

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Apr 27th 2020 at 1:38 pm

      Oh I am so pleased to hear that Nancy, it is a fav in our house as well!
      Onions and garlic sound a great addition 🙂
      Cx

      Reply
  5. Stew says

    Apr 15th 2019 at 2:57 pm

    5 stars
    Really loved this!

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Apr 16th 2019 at 5:17 pm

      So please you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  6. Peter Briggs says

    Mar 25th 2019 at 1:54 am

    5 stars
    Delicious. Next time I’ll use 10oz of pasta, though. 14oz makes a lot o spaghetti. Thanks for a great recipe.

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Mar 26th 2019 at 8:45 am

      Oh I am so happy you enjoyed it Peter.
      (I admit I am a bit of a pasta fiend 😉 I serve very large portions :D)

      Reply
  7. Dara Michalski says

    Mar 21st 2019 at 4:30 am

    5 stars
    There is just something about the combo of shrimp and chorizo that is so addictive. My whole family loved this!

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Mar 21st 2019 at 5:03 am

      Oh yeah 😀
      I am SOOOO happy your family loved it, it is one of my kids favorite pasta dishes too.

      Reply
  8. Aimee Shugarman says

    Mar 21st 2019 at 4:25 am

    5 stars
    Perfection. Thanks for a delicious recipe!

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Mar 21st 2019 at 9:09 pm

      Oh YEAH 😀 😀
      So pleased you enjoyed it.

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Claire,

Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts

I believe cooking for those you love should be stress free and simple.

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