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Quick Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

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A quick and easy 15-minute dinner featuring juicy shrimp in a rich garlic butter sauce tossed with pasta. Perfect for busy weeknights and crowd-pleasing meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed frozen shrimp)
  • 8 ounces (225g) spaghetti or linguine
  • 4 tablespoons (60g) unsalted butter, divided
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Juice and zest of 1 lemon
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces (225g) of spaghetti and cook according to package instructions, about 8-9 minutes until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup (120ml) of pasta water, then drain the rest.
  2. While pasta cooks, pat 1 pound (450g) of shrimp dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using), sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook for about 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from pan and set aside.
  5. Reduce heat to medium, add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet. Once melted, add lemon zest and juice. Stir to combine and let sauce simmer for 1 minute.
  6. Return shrimp to skillet, add drained pasta and chopped parsley. Pour in reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce reaches desired consistency. Toss everything together gently for 1-2 minutes to coat pasta evenly.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately with extra parsley and a lemon wedge on the side.

Notes

If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water gradually to loosen. Do not overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture. Use fresh lemon juice and zest for best flavor. Gluten-free pasta can be used to make this recipe gluten-free. Dairy-free margarine can substitute butter for dairy-free version.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter shrimp pasta, quick shrimp pasta, easy dinner, 15-minute meal, weeknight dinner, seafood pasta

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/quick-garlic-butter-shrimp-pasta-recipe-easy-15-minute-dinner-idea/