Chili Oil Caramelized Onion Shrimp Pasta

Ingredients

Pasta & Shrimp

• 200 g pasta (spaghetti or linguine)
• 250 g shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp paprika

Caramelized Onion Base

• 2 large onions, thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter (or dairy-free alternative)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp sugar (optional, helps caramelization)

Sauce

• 2 tbsp chili oil (adjust to spice preference)
• ½ cup pasta water (reserved)
• 1 scoop Unflavored protein powder
• ¼ cup grated parmesan (optional)
• Juice of ½ lemon

Garnish

• Fresh parsley, chopped
• Chili flakes (optional)
• Extra parmesan (optional)

Preparation

1. Cook the pasta

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente.

Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.

2. Caramelize the onions

Heat olive oil and butter in a large pan over medium-low heat.

Add sliced onions and cook slowly for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deep golden and soft.

Add garlic, soy sauce, and sugar, then cook for another 2–3 minutes until fragrant and slightly sticky.

3. Cook the shrimp

In a separate pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.

Season shrimp with salt, pepper, and paprika.

Cook for 2–3 minutes per side until pink and fully cooked.
Remove from heat and set aside.

4. Build the sauce

In the onion pan, add chili oil and reserved pasta water.

In a small bowl, whisk the protein powder with a bit of warm pasta water first to prevent clumping, then add it into the sauce.

Stir well until smooth and slightly thickened.

Add lemon juice and parmesan (if using).

5. Combine everything

Add the cooked pasta and shrimp into the sauce.

Toss everything together until well coated and heated through.

6. Serve

Plate the pasta and top with fresh parsley, chili flakes, and extra parmesan if desired.

This chili oil caramelized onion shrimp pasta delivers a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors. The richness of slow-cooked onions combined with the heat of chili oil and the freshness of shrimp creates a restaurant-quality dish at home. Adding unflavored protein powder subtly boosts the protein content, making this indulgent meal more balanced without compromising its bold taste.