Easy Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
A quick and satisfying garlic butter shrimp pasta recipe perfect for busy weeknights, ready in just 15 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound medium-sized shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 ounces spaghetti or linguine
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 5 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- A small handful fresh parsley, chopped
- Juice of half a lemon
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (about 1 tablespoon salt per 4 quarts water). Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter. Once butter foams, add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, avoiding browning.
- Add shrimp to skillet and cook 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- Lower heat and add remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Let melt slowly, then add red pepper flakes if using and lemon juice. Stir to create sauce base.
- Drain pasta, reserving about ½ cup pasta water. Add pasta to skillet with sauce, tossing to coat. Add reserved pasta water gradually if sauce is too thick.
- Return shrimp to skillet and gently toss to combine and warm through.
- Turn off heat, stir in chopped parsley, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Serve immediately, drizzling any leftover garlic butter sauce on top.
Notes
If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water to loosen. Avoid overcooking shrimp to prevent rubbery texture. Peeling and deveining shrimp ahead saves time. Use real butter for best flavor; vegan substitutes will alter taste. Garlic should be sautéed gently to avoid bitterness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of the rec
- Calories: 450
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Protein: 30
Keywords: garlic butter shrimp pasta, quick dinner, easy shrimp pasta, weeknight meal, 15-minute dinner, garlic shrimp, pasta recipe