Quick Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
A quick and easy garlic butter shrimp pasta recipe ready in 15 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights. The buttery garlic sauce clings to tender shrimp and pasta for a comforting yet fast meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces (225g) spaghetti or linguine
- Salt for pasta water
- 1 pound (450g) raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (medium or large, fresh or thawed frozen)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Juice of half a lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional, to lighten butter or sauté shrimp faster)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of spaghetti or linguine and cook according to package instructions, usually 8-10 minutes, until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Heat 4 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat until melted and foamy. Add minced garlic and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (if using). Stir constantly for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Add the shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes on one side until pink, then flip and cook another 1-2 minutes until opaque and just cooked through.
- Add the drained pasta directly to the skillet with shrimp and garlic butter. Toss well to coat. If the sauce feels thick, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time until you get a silky consistency.
- Squeeze juice of half a lemon over the pasta and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley. Toss again to mix. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately, topped with optional grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
Avoid overcooking shrimp to prevent rubbery texture. Stir garlic constantly and keep heat moderate to avoid burning. Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce if needed. Optional additions include spinach or cherry tomatoes added near the end of cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 30
Keywords: garlic butter shrimp pasta, quick shrimp pasta, easy dinner, 15 minute meal, weeknight dinner, seafood pasta