Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
A quick and easy 15-minute dinner featuring succulent shrimp cooked in a rich garlic butter sauce, tossed with spaghetti or linguine for a comforting and flavorful meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces (225 grams) spaghetti or linguine
- 1 pound (450 grams) raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 tablespoons (60 grams) unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Juice of half a lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti or linguine and cook according to package instructions (usually 8-10 minutes) until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup (120 ml) of pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, pat dry the shrimp with paper towels to ensure a good sear.
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once melted and bubbling, add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Add shrimp in a single layer. Cook for about 2 minutes on one side until pink and slightly golden, then flip and cook another 1-2 minutes until fully opaque. Avoid overcooking.
- Reduce heat to low and add drained pasta to the skillet with shrimp. Toss gently to coat.
- Pour in reserved pasta water gradually to loosen the sauce. Squeeze in lemon juice and stir in chopped parsley.
- Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately, optionally garnished with extra parsley or grated Parmesan.
Notes
Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking shrimp to avoid steaming. Use room temperature shrimp for even cooking. Reserve pasta water to help bind the sauce. Watch shrimp closely to avoid overcooking. Add more pasta water if sauce is too thick or simmer to reduce if too thin. For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive oil or vegan butter. Gluten-free pasta or zucchini noodles can be used for dietary adaptations.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 30
Keywords: garlic butter shrimp pasta, quick dinner, easy shrimp pasta, 15-minute meal, weeknight dinner, seafood pasta, garlic shrimp, buttery pasta