Creamy Rice and Shrimp

Name: Creamy Rice and Shrimp
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons minced garlic; 1 cup uncooked white rice ((not instant rice)); ½ cup white wine; 2 ½ cups water; 3 teaspoons Better than Bouillon ((fish or lobster base)); 1 pound shrimp ((can be fresh or frozen)); 1 medium tomato, chopped; ¼ cup half & half; ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese; 2 tablespoons chopped chives ((optional))

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Creamy Rice and Shrimp is so easy, velvety, and delicious; it's a super easy family favorite and makes a great meal without spending a huge amount of time or energy in the kitchen!

Overhead shot of creamy rice and shrimp on a white bowl with a fork on the side on a blue plaid cloth. — This recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight and all impress your whole family!

First Published: July 23, 2014... Last Updated: August 7, 2020

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👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe Back Story
🥘 Ingredients Needed
🔪 Instructions
👪 FAQs
💭 Top Tips
📖 Variations
🥗 Suggested Side Dishes
🍤 Additional Shrimp Recipes
📋 Recipe Card
Creamy Rice and Shrimp
💬 Reviews and Comments

👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe Back Story

Recipe remodel time!

While this recipe has been on my site for years, I felt it was time to give it a bit of a facelift. The new pictures really highlight the colors of the dish, the beautiful red of the tomatoes, the warm pink shrimp, and the pop of green from the scallions.

This creamy rice and shrimp is a classic in our house. Not only is it super easy to make, it's also delicious and packed with nutrients. If you like shrimp, this is the perfect dish to add to your repertoire!

Best of all, you can make this dish all in one pan. There's nothing I hate more than spending time making a tasty meal only to spend another half an hour cleaning dishes after. With this recipe, you can avoid the hassle entirely!

And if you love shrimp dinners, try these tasty Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos!

🥘 Ingredients Needed

Overhead shot of labeled ingredients- half & half, minced garlic, shrimp, parmesan cheese, white rice, white wine, better than Bouillon, tomato, and water. — With only ten minutes of prep time needed, this creamy rice and shrimp recipe is super quick and easy to make!

minced garlic - adds a pop of extra flavor.
white rice - serves as the base of this dish; you could substitute brown rice if you want some extra nutrition.
white wine - helps to bring out the flavor of the shrimp.
Better than Bouillon - adds additional seafood flavor so the shrimp doesn't have to do all the work!
shrimp - use whichever size you prefer, and you can even cook it from frozen; shrimp is also a great choice because of how sustainable shrimp harvesting is!
tomato - a little bit of acidity cuts through all of the creaminess and tomatoes are great for antioxidants.
half & half - provides much of the creaminess of this dish.
Parmesan cheese - for extra thickness and some salty, cheesy flavor!

🔪 Instructions

Six panel grid of process shots- mixing ingredients and simmering in a pan. — The whole family will love this unique creamy rice and shrimp meal.

In a large saucepan, combine the garlic, rice, white wine, water, and fish/lobster bouillon base, then bring to a boil.
Add in your shrimp (it's OK if it's from frozen) and mix it in.
Reduce the heat and let your dish simmer for 20 minutes.
Add the half & half and Parmesan cheese.
Right before you serve, stir in your chopped tomato. You may also sprinkle some chopped chives on top for added flavor!

👪 FAQs

Should I use fresh or frozen shrimp?

Frozen shrimp tends to be easier to find and allows for more flexibility. I prefer to buy it peeled and de-veined; this removes a huge chunk of prep time and makes my life so much easier! If you do prefer fresh shrimp, I recommend buying it the day you plan to use it, maybe one day before just to ensure freshness.

How can I avoid chewy/rubbery shrimp while cooking?

The answer is pretty simple: just don't cook it for too long! As long as you don't let the dish simmer for too long or at too high a heat, your shrimp should come out perfectly every time.

How should I store leftovers?

Store your rice and shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. My favorite containers for food storage are food grade silicone zipper bags.

What's the best way to reheat refrigerated leftovers?

The most simple and effective way to reheat this dish would be to stick it in the microwave for a minute or so. If it hasn't fully heated, keep zapping in increments of 30 seconds until it's your desired temperature.

Can I freeze my leftovers?

While not ideal, this dish could definitely be stored in the freezer in an airtight container for several months.

Side shot of creamy rice and shrimp on a white plate on a wooden table with a blue cloth on the side. — This dish is so creamy and delicious and only takes a minimum amount of energy to complete!

💭 Top Tips

When shopping for shrimp

Typically, the safer bet for shrimp is to buy them frozen, as this ensures they are fresh. It’s also easy to thaw and cook them right out of the bag!
If you’re feeling adventurous and would rather try fresh shrimp, make sure the shrimp don’t smell like ammonia or have slimy shells. They should be firm with solid tails.
For a recipe like this one, aiming for medium to large -sized shrimp is the suggested option. Mini shrimp might also be a tasty choice!

When shopping for tomatoes

Perfect tomatoes look plump and juicy, and their skins are smooth.
The skin should be free of bump or bruises, but some cracking near the stem is perfectly normal.
Ripe tomatoes have a lovely fragrance to them. If there’s no aroma whatsoever, this could mean the tomato was picked before it was ready and won’t ever ripen properly.
Planning on using the tomatoes right away? Try to pick ones that are soft to the touch. But if you know you won’t need them for a couple of days, aim for tomatoes that are a bit firmer.

📖 Variations

Though shrimp is what I'm suggesting, any kind of seafood would be delicious in this dish! Crab, lobster, or even squid would give you an interesting twist on this recipe.
Feel free to vary the kind of rice you're using. Brown rice, for instance, has a bit of a different flavor and texture, but also provides a bit more nutritional value.
For even more flavor and to increase the healthiness of this meal, add in more vegetables! Some chopped asparagus or bell peppers would deepen the flavor profile and provide extra nutrients.
If you prefer to cook your shrimp on the grill, feel free to grill them up first and mix them in at the end with your tomatoes and whatever other vegetables you enjoy!

🥗 Suggested Side Dishes

While this recipe pulls from every corner of the food pyramid, it might still be a good choice to serve it with a delicious side!

Garlic Butter Microwave Broccoli

A unique microwave broccoli dish with a delicious butter sauce infused with the flavors of fresh red peppers and garlic and combined with the crunchiness of cashews!

Overhead shot of garlic butter broccoli in a blue bowl on a wooden surface

Quinoa Chickpea Salad

Nutritious and delicious, this dish can be served as a side dish or a light meatless entree.

Sauteed Zucchini with Walnuts

Quick and easy zucchini side dish topped with Parmesan cheese and crunchy walnuts!

Side view of sautéed zucchini with walnuts on a white plate with a half sliced zucchini in the background.

🍤 Additional Shrimp Recipes

Here are a few more more shrimp ideas for you!

Easy Shrimp Stew

This Easy Shrimp Stew is a great option when you want something a little different for dinner. It's spicy and comforting and will warm you up from head to toe. And what's more, it uses ingredients you can just pull out of your freezer and pantry - no tedious chopping or other prep!

Overhead shot of shrimp stew sprinkled with herbs in a white bowl with a green cloth on the side.

Creamy Avocado Zoodles with Chipotle Lime Shrimp

Zucchini noodles smothered in a creamy avocado sauce and topped with zingy, tangy shrimp!

square collage of 4 of the easy shrimp dinners

Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo

Shrimp in a creamy lightened-up Alfredo sauce, easy to prepare in less than 30 minutes!

20 Minute Honey Garlic Shrimp | Sally’s Baking Addiction

This simple and healthy 20 minute honey garlic shrimp comes together in no time!

Or for something in the seafood category but a little different, try this delicious recipe for Easy Baked Calamari Rings. It comes out crispy and crunchy and makes a great healthy appetizer or a light meal!