Quick Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
A fast and easy weeknight dinner featuring large shrimp seared in garlic butter with white wine and lemon, tossed with spaghetti for a comforting, crowd-pleasing meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb large or extra-large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 oz spaghetti or linguine
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4–5 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (e.g., Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
- 1 fresh lemon (zest and juice)
- 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Reserved pasta water as needed
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve one cup of pasta water before draining, then set pasta aside.
- While water boils, pat shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add butter and melt completely without browning, about 2 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Stir constantly for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
- Increase heat to medium-high. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook for one minute per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp to a plate.
- Pour white wine into the skillet and scrape up browned bits. Simmer for two minutes to reduce slightly.
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss in the sauce. Add a splash of reserved pasta water to help the sauce cling. Return shrimp to the pan and toss gently.
- Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, and chopped parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt or pepper. Serve immediately.
Notes
Ensure shrimp are thoroughly dried before searing to prevent steaming. Do not overcook shrimp; they should curl into a ‘C’ shape. If the sauce is too thick, add more reserved pasta water. For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta. For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with olive oil.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: shrimp pasta, garlic butter shrimp, quick dinner, weeknight meals, easy pasta recipe, seafood pasta, lemon shrimp