Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta (Printable)
Savory garlic butter shrimp served with tender spaghetti, fresh parsley, and a hint of bright lemon.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz spaghetti or linguine
02 - Salt, as needed for pasta water
→ Shrimp
03 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
04 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
05 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
06 - 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
→ Garlic Butter Sauce
07 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
08 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
09 - 5 cloves garlic, minced
10 - Zest of 1 lemon
11 - 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
12 - 1/4 cup dry white wine or low-sodium chicken broth
13 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
→ Garnish (optional)
14 - Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
15 - Additional chopped parsley
16 - Lemon wedges
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti or linguine until al dente following package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water and drain the rest.
02 - Season shrimp with kosher salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
03 - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add shrimp and cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and set aside.
04 - Lower heat to medium. Add remaining butter and olive oil to the skillet. Sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
05 - Pour in white wine or chicken broth along with lemon zest and lemon juice. Simmer for 2 minutes while scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
06 - Return shrimp to the skillet. Add drained pasta and toss together, adding reserved pasta water gradually to form a smooth sauce.
07 - Stir in chopped fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
08 - Serve immediately, topped with Parmesan, additional parsley, and lemon wedges if desired.
# Cooking Tips:
01 -
- This recipe feels like sharing a delicious secret because of the buttery garlic sauce that wraps every strand of pasta in pure comfort
- It became a favorite since it's quick to prepare yet impressive enough to serve to friends on a weeknight
02 -
- Don't rush the garlic's sauté; just enough warmth coaxing out the flavor makes all the difference before it browns
- Adding the reserved pasta water gradually helps you create that silky sauce that clings perfectly to noodles and shrimp
03 -
- Patting shrimp dry before cooking ensures they sear properly instead of steaming
- The secret to luscious sauce is balancing butter and olive oil to keep it silky but never greasy