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Creamy Lemon Asparagus Shrimp Pasta with Garlic Butter Sauce

creamy lemon asparagus shrimp pasta - featured image
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A quick and easy creamy lemon asparagus shrimp pasta with a garlic butter sauce that balances fresh, bright flavors with comforting creaminess. Ready in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces fettuccine or linguine pasta
  • 1 pound medium-sized shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 bunch asparagus (about 1/2 pound), trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • Juice and zest of 1 large lemon
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • A handful fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (about 4 quarts). While waiting, trim and cut asparagus into 2-inch pieces. Peel and devein shrimp if not already done. Zest and juice the lemon, mince garlic, and chop parsley.
  2. Add pasta to boiling water and cook according to package instructions (usually 9-11 minutes for fettuccine). About 3 minutes before pasta is done, add asparagus pieces to the pot to blanch until bright green and tender-crisp. Drain pasta and asparagus together, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
  3. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp, season with salt and pepper, and cook about 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
  4. Reduce heat to medium, add remaining 3 tablespoons butter and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté garlic until fragrant and slightly golden, about 1 minute. Stir in lemon zest and juice, then pour in heavy cream. Let simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
  5. Return shrimp to the skillet, add drained pasta and asparagus. Toss together, gradually adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen sauce and coat pasta evenly.
  6. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and sauce is creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Sprinkle chopped parsley on top.
  7. Serve immediately, optionally adding extra lemon zest or Parmesan shavings.

Notes

If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time to loosen. Avoid overcooking shrimp to prevent rubbery texture. Garlic should be golden but not burnt to avoid bitterness. Use tongs to toss pasta for even sauce coating. For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive oil, heavy cream with coconut cream, and omit Parmesan or use dairy-free alternative. Gluten-free pasta can be used as a substitute.

Nutrition

Keywords: shrimp pasta, lemon asparagus pasta, creamy pasta, garlic butter sauce, quick dinner, easy shrimp recipe

Find it online: https://leilameals.com/creamy-lemon-asparagus-shrimp-pasta-recipe-easy-garlic-butter-sauce-method/