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Light & Quick Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta: Easy 20-Min Dinner

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This garlic butter shrimp pasta comes together in under 20 minutes with simple ingredients. It’s a quick, indulgent weeknight dinner that feels special without requiring much effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz (225 g) linguine or spaghetti
  • 1 lb (450 g) raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 4 tbsp (56 g) unsalted butter
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) reserved pasta water
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/4 cup (15 g) fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While the pasta cooks, pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp in a single layer and cook for 1-2 minutes per side until pink and just cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
  4. Reduce heat to medium and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly.
  5. Add 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water and lemon juice to the pan. Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits. Let simmer for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened.
  6. Add the drained pasta and cooked shrimp to the skillet. Toss everything together with tongs, adding more pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
  7. Remove from heat and stir in the fresh parsley. Serve immediately with grated Parmesan cheese on top.

Notes

Don’t overcook the shrimp; they should curl into a loose C shape. Reserve more pasta water than you think you need. Work quickly after adding pasta to the sauce. Use freshly grated Parmesan for best melting. Let garlic sizzle but not burn.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter shrimp pasta, quick dinner, weeknight meal, shrimp pasta, easy pasta recipe

Find it online: https://prismtaste.com/light-and-quick-garlic-butter-shrimp-pasta-easy-20-min-dinner/