Easy 15-Minute Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
A quick and comforting shrimp pasta dish made with garlic butter sauce, lemon zest, and fresh parsley, ready in just 15 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 3-4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 ounces (225g) spaghetti or linguine
- 4 tablespoons (about 60g) unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces (225g) of spaghetti or linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 4 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once melted and foaming, add minced garlic and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned.
- Add shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 1.5 to 2 minutes on each side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- Drain pasta, reserving about 1/4 cup (60ml) pasta water. Add pasta to the skillet with garlic butter sauce. Toss gently to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen sauce.
- Return shrimp to skillet. Stir in lemon zest and juice, and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Serve immediately, optionally topped with grated Parmesan or a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Notes
Avoid overcooking shrimp to prevent rubbery texture. Dry shrimp well before cooking for better sear. Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Fresh lemon zest and juice brighten the dish. Variations include adding veggies, using dairy-free butter, or swapping pasta for zucchini noodles.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup pasta wi
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 2.5
- Protein: 30
Keywords: shrimp pasta, garlic butter shrimp, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, 15-minute meal, weeknight dinner, seafood pasta