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Creamy Lemon Butter Shrimp Linguine

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A quick and easy creamy lemon butter shrimp linguine that balances bright lemon acidity with rich butter and cream, perfect for a comforting yet elegant dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces linguine pasta
  • 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • Juice and zest of 1 large lemon
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente (9-11 minutes). Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining. Drain linguine and set aside.
  2. Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once butter foams, add shrimp in a single layer. Cook 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Cook in batches if needed. Remove shrimp and set aside.
  4. Reduce heat to medium and add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add red pepper flakes if using.
  5. Pour in heavy cream and stir, scraping browned bits from the pan. Add lemon juice and zest. Simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens slightly, avoiding curdling.
  6. Return shrimp to skillet. Add cooked linguine and about 1/4 cup reserved pasta water. Toss gently to coat pasta evenly. Add more pasta water if needed for desired consistency.
  7. Off heat, stir in Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper.
  8. Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley or lemon wedges if desired.

Notes

Pat shrimp dry before cooking to get a good sear and avoid steaming. Use reserved pasta water to loosen sauce without watering down flavor. Simmer sauce gently to prevent cream from curdling. Fresh lemon zest adds essential brightness. For dairy-free, substitute butter with vegan butter and cream with coconut milk. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.

Nutrition

Keywords: lemon butter shrimp linguine, creamy shrimp pasta, easy dinner, quick pasta recipe, seafood linguine, weeknight dinner, lemon shrimp pasta

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