Quick Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta with Zesty Lemon
A quick and easy shrimp pasta dish featuring garlic butter sauce and a bright lemon twist, ready in about 20 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights or casual date nights.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450 grams) medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 ounces (225 grams) spaghetti or linguine
- 4 tablespoons (56 grams) unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) fresh lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces (225 grams) of spaghetti and cook according to package directions (usually 8-10 minutes) until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup (120 ml) of pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 tablespoons (28 grams) butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, not browned.
- Add shrimp in a single layer and cook for 2-3 minutes on one side until pink and slightly golden, then flip and cook another 1-2 minutes until opaque and tender. Remove shrimp from pan and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons (28 grams) butter. Add red pepper flakes if using. Pour in fresh lemon juice and lemon zest, stirring to combine.
- Slowly add about 1/4 cup (60 ml) reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce and help it cling to the pasta.
- Return shrimp to the skillet and add drained pasta. Toss everything together over low heat for 1-2 minutes so the pasta absorbs the sauce. Add more pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency.
- Remove from heat, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, and season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
Do not overcook shrimp to avoid rubbery texture. Cook shrimp in batches if pan is small to prevent steaming. Stir garlic in melted butter on medium-low heat to avoid burning. Use reserved pasta water gradually to control sauce thickness. For creamier sauce, add a splash of heavy cream or sprinkle Parmesan at the end. For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive oil or vegan butter. Gluten-free pasta can be used to make the dish gluten-free.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About one-quarter of
- Calories: 450500
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 23
- Protein: 30
Keywords: shrimp pasta, garlic butter shrimp, lemon pasta, quick dinner, easy shrimp recipe, weeknight meal, seafood pasta