Easy Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta Recipe
A quick and delicious shrimp pasta dish made with garlic butter sauce, ready in about 15 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute dinners.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) peeled and deveined medium shrimp (wild-caught if possible)
- 8 ounces (225g) spaghetti or linguine
- 4 tablespoons (about 57g) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 large cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Juice of half a lemon (about 1 tablespoon or 15ml)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces (225g) of spaghetti or linguine and cook until al dente, about 8-9 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup (120ml) of pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, pat dry 1 pound (450g) of peeled, deveined shrimp to remove excess moisture.
- Heat 1 tablespoon (15ml) olive oil and 2 tablespoons (28g) butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook about 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp to a plate.
- Lower heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons (28g) butter to the skillet. Once melted, add minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir constantly for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Return cooked shrimp to skillet. Add drained pasta and toss to combine. Pour in reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce and help it cling to the noodles.
- Squeeze juice of half a lemon over the pasta. Add chopped parsley. Toss again and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley if desired.
Notes
Pat shrimp dry before cooking to ensure a good sear. Use browned butter for a nutty depth of flavor but watch carefully to avoid burning the garlic. Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce as needed. Avoid overcooking shrimp to prevent rubbery texture. Reheat leftovers gently with a splash of water or broth.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 43
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: shrimp pasta, garlic butter shrimp, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, weeknight meal, seafood pasta