This Creamy Shrimp and Biscuits recipe is the ultimate comfort food with a touch of elegance. Tender, succulent shrimp swimming in a rich garlic-parmesan cream sauce, served alongside fluffy, homemade biscuits that are perfect for soaking up every last drop of that heavenly sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes, this impressive dish is surprisingly simple to prepare, making it perfect for both weeknight dinners and special occasions.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Restaurant-Quality at Home: This dish looks and tastes like something from a high-end restaurant, but you can make it in your own kitchen for a fraction of the cost.
Quick and Satisfying: From start to finish in just 30 minutes, this recipe delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort—perfect for those busy evenings when you want something special without spending hours in the kitchen.
Crowd-Pleaser: The combination of tender shrimp and fluffy biscuits appeals to almost everyone. Even picky eaters find themselves coming back for seconds!
Impressive Yet Simple: Despite its elegant appearance, this recipe uses straightforward techniques that even novice cooks can master with confidence.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Biscuits:

Self-rising flour: The foundation of our biscuits, providing structure and that wonderful rise without needing to add leavening agents separately.
Heavy cream: Creates incredible tenderness and richness in the biscuits—no butter needed!
Fresh thyme: Adds a subtle herbal note that complements the shrimp beautifully.
Parmesan cheese: Brings a savory depth that elevates these biscuits from good to unforgettable.

For the Garlic Parmesan Shrimp:

Fresh shrimp: Always use fresh when possible for the sweetest flavor and best texture.
House seasoning blend: Adds perfectly balanced flavor to the shrimp—use your favorite all-purpose blend.
Olive oil: For searing the shrimp and developing rich flavor.
Butter: Creates a luxurious base for the sauce while adding incredible flavor.
Shallot: Provides a milder, more elegant flavor than regular onions.
Fresh thyme: Infuses the sauce with aromatic herbal notes.
Garlic: Don’t skimp here—those six cloves create amazing depth of flavor.
Pinot Grigio: Adds brightness and acidity to balance the rich cream sauce.
Light cream: Creates a silky, luxurious sauce without being too heavy.
Parmesan cheese: Brings everything together with its nutty, salty goodness.

Variations

Protein Swaps

Try substituting the shrimp with scallops, chunks of white fish, or even shredded rotisserie chicken for a different but equally delicious meal.

Add Some Vegetables

Enhance the nutritional value by adding spinach, mushrooms, or cherry tomatoes to the sauce. These will wilt/cook quickly and add wonderful color and flavor.

Spice It Up

For a bit of heat, add red pepper flakes to the sauce or incorporate some chopped fresh jalapeños when cooking the shallots.

Herb Variations

Substitute rosemary, basil, or dill for the thyme to create a completely different flavor profile that’s still delicious.

How to Make Creamy Shrimp and Biscuits

Step 1: Prepare the Biscuits

In a large bowl, combine the self-rising flour, heavy cream, chopped fresh thyme, and grated parmesan cheese. Mix gently until just combined—overmixing will make tough biscuits. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and gently flatten to about ½ inch thick. Use a biscuit cutter to cut out rounds, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 450°F for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.

Step 2: Prepare the Shrimp

While the biscuits are baking, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the peeled and deveined shrimp on both sides with your house seasoning blend. Place the shrimp in the hot skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until pink and opaque. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and cover with foil to keep warm.

Step 3: Make the Cream Sauce

Add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the chopped shallot and cook for about 1 minute until softened but not browned. Add the minced garlic and fresh thyme sprigs, cooking for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the Pinot Grigio and allow it to reduce by half, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan—these contain tons of flavor!

Step 4: Finish the Sauce and Serve

Add the light cream to the skillet and allow it to simmer until slightly thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in the parmesan cheese until melted and incorporated. Return the shrimp to the skillet, tossing to coat in the sauce. Remove the biscuits from the oven. Serve the creamy shrimp over or alongside the warm biscuits.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

Don’t Overwork the Biscuit Dough: Handle it gently for the fluffiest results. The dough should look a bit shaggy, not smooth.
Perfect Shrimp Cooking: Shrimp cook very quickly! They’re done when they turn pink and form a C-shape. If they curl into an O-shape, they’re overcooked.
Prep Everything First: This recipe moves quickly once you start cooking, so have all ingredients measured, chopped, and ready to go.
Wine Substitute: If you prefer not to use wine, substitute with chicken broth and a squeeze of lemon juice to maintain the flavor balance.
Use the Same Skillet: Cooking the sauce in the same pan where you cooked the shrimp ensures you capture all those wonderful flavors.

How to Serve

Perfect Pairings

Serve this creamy shrimp with a simple green salad dressed with lemon vinaigrette to cut through the richness of the dish.

Presentation Ideas

For a more elegant presentation, place the biscuits on plates, spoon the creamy shrimp over them, and garnish with fresh thyme leaves and a sprinkle of cracked black pepper.

Wine Pairing

The same Pinot Grigio you used in cooking makes an excellent accompaniment to this dish. A crisp Sauvignon Blanc or unoaked Chardonnay would also pair beautifully.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store the shrimp and sauce separately from the biscuits in airtight containers in the refrigerator. The sauce and shrimp will keep for up to 2 days, while the biscuits can last about 3-4 days.

Freezing

The biscuits freeze beautifully! Place cooled biscuits in a freezer-safe container with parchment between layers and freeze for up to 3 months. Unfortunately, the creamy shrimp sauce doesn’t freeze well due to the dairy content.

Reheating

Reheat the biscuits in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes until warmed through. For the shrimp and sauce, reheat gently in a skillet over low heat, adding a splash of cream if needed to restore the creamy consistency.

FAQs

Can I use frozen shrimp for this recipe?
Absolutely! Just make sure to thaw them completely and pat them dry before cooking. Excess moisture will prevent proper searing and can make your sauce watery. I recommend thawing frozen shrimp overnight in the refrigerator for best results.

I don’t have self-rising flour. Can I still make the biscuits?
You can easily make your own self-rising flour by combining 2 cups of all-purpose flour with 1 tablespoon of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Mix these ingredients thoroughly before proceeding with the recipe as written.

Can I prepare components of this dish ahead of time?
Yes! The biscuit dough can be prepared and cut out up to a day ahead. Keep the unbaked biscuits covered in the refrigerator until ready to bake. You can also clean and season the shrimp in advance. I wouldn’t recommend making the sauce ahead as it’s best when freshly prepared.

What can I substitute for the light cream?
Half-and-half works well as a lighter alternative, though the sauce won’t be quite as rich. For a more decadent version, you could use heavy cream. Regular milk will work in a pinch, but you may need to let it reduce longer or add a small amount of flour to achieve the proper thickness.

Final Thoughts

This Creamy Shrimp and Biscuits recipe transforms simple ingredients into a meal that feels like a special occasion. The contrast between the tender, garlicky shrimp swimming in silky sauce and the flaky, herb-infused biscuits creates a perfect harmony on your plate. It’s comfort food with a touch of elegance that’s sure to become a regular in your dinner rotation. Try it tonight—your family will think you’ve been taking secret culinary classes!

Creamy Shrimp and Biscuits Recipe